Country's leading auto players said that they will discuss the much talked about the e-vehicle policy which says to have only electric cars operating on Indian roads by 203O with the government. Aiming to cut down fuel import cost and pollution level, power minister Piyush Goyal had earlier said that a robust policy for the promotion of e-vehicles is in the pipeline.
"Niti Aayog has drawn up certain ideas but the project is being looked after by the Ministry of Heavy Industries. I am sure that will have all discussions and come up with a robust policy because we want to encourage domestic manufacturing of electric vehicles," the minister said, adding that a policy is likely to be released in the current fiscal.
Minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday (May 15) informed that they will come out with a fair and transparent and comprehensive policy by December which will change the vehicle scenario of the country.
Maruti Suzuki's managing director and CEO Kenichi Ayukawa said, "We will consult the policy with the government. We need to hear their opinion and they need to hear our opinion when it comes to making policies like this."
Ayukawa didn't inform anything on what role Suzuki's partnership with auto major Toyota will play in developing e-vehicles in India.
Toyota Motor Corporation and Suzuki Motor joined hands in February this year to enable both sides to explore the possibility of co-operation in areas including environment and safety, IT and mutual supply of products and components. It was reported that Suzuki may leverage the partnership to seek collaboration on electric and hybrid vehicles, apart from technology.
"Can't say much about how the policy will shape out. We will talk with the government and figure out how the policy can work out in the best interest for everyone," said another leading carmaker executive, requesting anonymity. The person added that the target is very ambitious and it will require a huge amount of investment from their side and from government's side to build an ecosystem to support e-vehicles.
Gadkari said a group of ministers, constituted to prepare the draft plan for the electric vehicle policy, has already submitted its recommendations to the Cabinet secretary. Even though the government is playing a pro-active role in promoting e-vehicle, it is the industry which is less aware of the developments happening in the government.
According to the International Energy Agency, India had close to 5,000 electric vehicles on the road by the end of last year. The number seems minuscule when compared with more than three million passenger vehicles sold in the country last year. In recent years India has achieved success in mild hybrid technology, but a full-fledged e-vehicle is yet to become popular in the country.
BW Reporters
The author is Senior Correspondent with BW Businessworld
