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.
