Beyond EV Numbers: Minister Calls for Home‑grown Tech and Value Creation

Heavy Industries Minister HD Kumar Swamy addressed the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association’s 66th annual session on Wednesday, urging a re‑examination of India’s electric‑mobility narrative.

He stressed that merely counting electric vehicles on Indian roads provides an incomplete picture. Instead, the focus should be on how much indigenous technology is being developed, the depth of local value addition, and the extent of MSME involvement in new supply chains.

'Success will be reflected in the technologies we create at home, the value we add domestically, and the competitiveness of Indian products in global markets,' Kumar Swamy said.

The minister appealed to manufacturers to invest confidently in clean, efficient and emerging technologies designed not just for the Indian market but for export. He reiterated that India should aim to lead the global mobility shift rather than merely participate.

Government initiatives, he noted, already back domestic value addition and advanced tech. The Production‑Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, for example, had attracted investments of 45,477 crore rupees by June 30, 2026, and generated over 67,000 jobs.

Kumar Swamy highlighted the automotive sector’s centrality to India’s industrial growth, its role in supporting millions of livelihoods, and its ripple effects across steel, electronics, engineering, chemicals, logistics and services. The ministry will continue working with ACMI, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers and other stakeholders to refine the scheme, address operational hurdles and cultivate an investment‑friendly environment as the country strives toward its 2047 development goal.