On World EV Day, India's autocomp body ACMA moves to future-proof mobility solutions

The Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), the leading organization for the country's auto component sector, held its 64th annual session on September 9 -- also the World EV Day -- around the theme 'Viksit Bharat' for fostering self-reliance & global competitiveness in mobility components. 

The session saw the likes of Shri Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways; Shri Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry; Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy, Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Shri Jitin Prasada, Union Minister of State of Commerce & Industry and Electronics and Information Technology in attendance from the government, as well as industry bigwigs Pawan Goenka, Chairman of SCALE and IN-SPACe; Vinod Aggarwal, President of SIAM and MD & CEO of Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles; Hisashi Takeuchi, MD & CEO of Maruti Suzuki India; and Sanjiv Puri, President of CII and MD of ITC. 

Shri Kumaraswamy launched ACMA's latest initiative, the ACMA Mobility Foundation, which aims to integrate stakeholders from the software, electronics, and startup sectors to foster innovation and collaboration in the automotive industry. The minister shared that the automotive sector has created 5 million jobs, with significant investments under the PLI scheme boosting employment and growth. He reinforced the government's commitment to supporting electric two and three-wheelers, focusing on industry transformation and job creation. 

Pawan Goenka emphasized the potential of the Indian automotive industry to reach $1.6 trillion by 2047 with 17 percent CAGR. He highlighted the need to focus on exports, technology, and safety standards while pushing for a transition to electric vehicles. Despite our strengths, he pointed out the challenges of low EV adoption and underscored the importance of green energy partnerships, MSME support, and scaling up our capabilities. 

Shri Gadkari highlighted India's achievement in surpassing Japan to become the world's third-largest automobile industry, valued at ₹22 lakh crore. He expressed confidence that advancements in semiconductor and lithium-ion battery production would help reduce imports significantly within the next 2-3 years. He also highlighted the urgent need to reduce India's reliance on imports and invest in domestic semiconductor and battery manufacturing. He praised the progress of Indian startups and MSME's, discussed how to enhance safety and sustainability in automotive sector and outlined ambitious targets for the sector to become a global manufacturing hub by 2030. However, he also reminded us of the road safety challenges we must address. 

Piyush Goyal, praised the industry's competitiveness and emphasized the need to create a highly localized sector. He encouraged continuous assessment, recalibration, and resetting of goals as we work towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. 

Shradha Suri Marwah, ACMA President and Chairperson & Managing Director of Subros, described the current moment as a pivotal one for India, marking significant progress and opportunity. She emphasized that the ACMA Mobility Foundation's launch on World EV Day underscored the industry's commitment to future-ready mobility solutions. 

Reflecting on the session, it's clear that India is at a pivotal opportunity stage globally, with everyone eyeing it as the next R&D hub. The path forward is not just about competition among automotive manufacturers but fostering a collaborative approach to deliver reliable, strong, and long-lasting quality products to the world.