The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) held its 64th Annual Convention, with a strong focus on sustainable mobility and the country’s vision for a developed India by 2047. The event brought together key government officials, industry leaders, and policymakers to discuss strategies for promoting environmentally responsible transportation solutions across the automotive sector.
In a special message, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the significance of the automobile sector in setting a national example of sustainable development. He called for rapid but sustainable progress, underscoring that greener and cleaner mobility is a critical step towards this goal. His remarks placed a clear emphasis on the need for sustainable practices to become integral to the country’s development.
Chief Guest, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, highlighted the pivotal role of the automobile industry in achieving India's economic ambitions. He noted that the industry not only contributes to India’s aim of becoming a $5 trillion economy but also aligns with the country’s goals of carbon neutrality by 2070. Gadkari stressed the importance of innovation and sustainable practices in ensuring that India becomes a global leader in automobile manufacturing. He paid special attention to the vehicle scrappage for efficient circularity for the automotive industry. He also proposed a 3% discount on purchase of a new vehicle against scrapping, which the automotive industry will agree.
H.D. Kumaraswamy, Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel, echoed this sentiment, stating that the government is aggressively promoting electric mobility to support sustainable industrial growth. He pointed to policies that are creating a favourable environment for the automotive sector, in line with the government’s broader Make in India initiative and its pledges for sustainability made at the Glasgow climate summit.
Vinod Aggarwal, President of SIAM and Managing Director of Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles Ltd, spoke about the automobile industry's significant contributions to India’s GDP and its rapid growth. He highlighted SIAM’s commitment to decarbonisation and the progress seen in electric vehicle (EV) adoption, particularly with the FAME programme which has spurred a 90% growth in EV passenger vehicles. Aggarwal reiterated the industry's pledge to continue driving towards greener, safer mobility in India, contributing to the vision of a developed nation by 2047.
Shailesh Chandra, Vice President of SIAM and Managing Director of Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd., stressed the need for collective action to achieve sustainable mobility. He praised the government’s support for the automotive sector’s transition towards cleaner energy and reaffirmed the industry's alignment with the government’s vision of achieving net carbon-zero emissions.
The event also featured discussions on the importance of collaboration between the government and the automotive industry. Anurag Jain, Secretary of the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, detailed the government's long-term plans to develop infrastructure, including the expansion of national highways and metro networks, to improve transportation sustainability and efficiency.
Klaus Zellmer, Chairman and CEO of Škoda Auto a.s., discussed the company’s efforts in sustainability, highlighting its commitment to CO2-neutral production by 2030. He also emphasised the importance of managing resources sustainably while maintaining a focus on green energy solutions.
Leaders from other major automobile companies also contributed their perspectives on sustainable mobility. Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director of Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., expressed confidence in India's automotive future, pointing to clean energy technologies and biofuels as key elements in reducing the country’s dependency on imports. K N Radhakrishnan, CEO of TVS Motor Company Ltd., highlighted the role of auto component manufacturers in delivering world-class products while adhering to the country’s sustainability targets.
In a presentation by Nitesh Gupta, Partner and Leader of Auto Practice at McKinsey & Company, the urgency of adopting sustainable solutions to reduce emissions from the transport sector was underscored. Gupta’s insights called for immediate action to ensure the industry's alignment with global environmental goals.
Also Read
SIAM Hosts 2nd 'Green Plate EV Rally' To Promote Electric Vehicles