SIAM leads the charge for electric mobility

The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) successfully hosted the highly anticipated 5^th edition of Global Electrification Mobility Summit (GEMS)in New Delhi, cenetred on the inspiring theme of “Electrification: Scaling India’s Mobility Revolution through Electrification for Growth, Sustainability & Global Leadership". This landmark gathering brought together top policymakers, visionary industry leaders, and distinguished experts from across the globe to shape the roadmap for India’s accelerating transition to electric mobility and sustainable transportation.

The event was graced by the presence of Chief Guest, H. D. Kumaraswamy, Union Minister of Heavy Industries, Government of India, and Guest of Honours, Dr. Hanif Qureshi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries, Government of India;  Ghanshyam Prasad, Chairperson, CEA and Padma Jaiswal,  IAS, Secretary to Govt. of NCT Delhi, along with leading industry leaders.

The opening session, themed “Powering India’s Electric Mobility Vision: Policy, Industry and Institutions in Action”, witnessed discussions around EV policies, offering deep insights for India’s EV future that would build a connected and cohesive ecosystem in the country for EV adoption.

Welcoming the dignitaries, Prashant K Banerjee, Executive Director, SIAM,said, “India is at a pivotal moment where electrification is no longer aspirational but a strategic national and global priority, and SIAM is committed to building a responsible ecosystem that advances sustainable mobility.”

While giving the opening remarks Sushant Naik, Chairman SIAM Electric Mobility Group & Global Head Government and Corporate Affairs & Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Tata Motors, said, “Electric mobility is not just a change in power trends but a major power shift. As India moves from early adoption to the mainstream, the focus to build a sustainable EV ecosystem must be driven by localisation, financing, and charging infrastructure.”

While addressing the summit, H.D. Kumaraswamy said, “India’s automotive industry is among the fastest-growing globally, and our transition to electrification is firmly underway. With EV sales crossing two million units in FY25, plans for 70,000 charging stations, strong domestic manufacturing, and a vibrant startup ecosystem, India is well positioned to set global benchmarks on its journey towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy.”

Guest of Honour Ghanshyam Prasad said, “With EV growth accelerating from 8% toward 49%, DISCOMS must be kept in close contact as heavy-duty and last-mile charging expands, and the real value addition will come when EVs don’t just draw from the grid, but vehicle owners become generators themselves.”

Guest of Honour Padma Jaiswal  said, “We must tailor electrification to India's unique needs, creating EVs for our environment, our roads, and our weather, while building a circular economy to extract critical minerals from end-of-life vehicles, ensuring our path to Net Zero is truly fulfilled.”

Dhiraj Kumar Srivastava, Chief Engineer (EC,ET& OL), Ministry of Power, highlighted, “Electrification promotes sustainability through energy conservation aligned with our CAFE norms, and with the charging system de-licensed and stations exceeding well beyond 8000, increasing charging watts will drive greater EV adoption in the country.”

The opening session was also graced by Rahul Mishra, Partner, Bain & Co; Reji Mathai, Director, ARAI; Abhijit Sengupta, Senior Director & Head of Business, Southeast Asia & India, HERE Technologies, and Yashpal Sachar, Vice President & Head of Corporate Affairs, Ashok Leyland.

The Ministerial Session featured the launch of SIAM whitepaper “Roadmap for accelerated adoption of E-buses in India” and provided key insights into policy frameworks and institutional actions for scaling electrification in the country.

Guest of Honour Dr. Hanif Qureshi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries, Government of India, said, “The transition to electric mobility is no longer aspirational, it is achievable. With EV sales up 25%, stable policy continuity, expanding charging infrastructure, and the success of PM E-Drive, India is witnessing a silent revolution. Rising EV penetration, resilient supply chains, and strong industry–government collaboration under the Automotive Mission Plan are steadily moving us towards Viksit Bharat.”

Shailesh Chandra, President SIAM, and MD & CEO, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd., said, “Electrification is no longer niche; it is a mainstream economic driver. Sustained R&D, ecosystem-wide collaboration, and embedded sustainability will determine affordability and scale of EVs. As India stands at a defining global inflection point, the choices we make today will shape an electrification journey driven by innovation, scale, and long-term purpose.”