The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has given its opinion on the ambitious aspiration of the Niti Aayog in bringing in Electric Mobility in the country as soon as possible. SIAM says that Automotive Industry fully supports the government. However, SIAM cautions that the ambition needs to be tempered with a practical approach and what is possible without needlessly disrupting the automotive industry.

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Rajan Wadhera, President, SIAM, says, "The automotive industry, today, is facing multiple challenges of leapfrogging to BS VI emission norms, complying with many new safety norms etc., in the shortest time-frame ever attempted in the world. This is engaging the focused attention of the industry and involving huge investments of
the order of Rs. 70,000-80,000 crores. Even before this investment is recovered, as per media reports, Government is proposing to ban sales of internal combustion engine (ICE) based three wheelers within a short time frame of 2023 and to ban sales of less than 150 cc 2 wheelers by 2025. This seems to be impractical as well
as untimely."

The SIAM president further adds, "What is required is a well laid out roadmap for an ambitious EV rollout over a practical timeframe along with an integrated plan for setting up the necessary infrastructure across the length and breadth of the country, in consultation with all stakeholders. The auto industry under the aegis of SIAM will continue to closely partner with Government in ensuring a planned transformation towards electric vehicles and to build the nation, sustainably."

SIAM, a non-profit apex national body, represents all major vehicle and vehicular engine manufacturers in India.