Indian think-tank NITI Aayog’s CEO Amitabh Kant urged automakers to move forward with their electric vehicle plans as the transition of automobiles towards electric mobility is inevitable. The NITI Aayog head also emphasised the requirement to adopt an indigenous route for EVs, produce a robust supply chain and lessen dependency on imports from China. The Indian manufacturers must understand that we are in the middle of the biggest transition and will become inevitable whether you like it or not, he said at the 61st annual conference of the Auto Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA). He said that the domestic manufacturers should use the opportunity to lead the disruptive change and strive for a strategic role in the global value chain. As per Kant, it is critical for the country to indigenise in EV manufacturing and its parts and support mass adoption. He warned that the EV industry should not choose the route followed by the solar power sector. He said it’s an opportunity for the component industry of India to de-risk, diversify its portfolio, and become part of a global supply chain. He said a persistent rise in petrol prices and a policy push by the center and states has encouraged manufacturers of e-scooters to launch them at a cost that is only marginally higher than comparable internal combustion engine (ICE) powered models. Higher demand has prompted e-scooter producers to produce large capacities in the world's largest two-wheeler market. While electrification in the two-wheeler and shared mobility segments will be fast, personal car buyers will have to wait till cost parity between ICE cars and e-cars is reached. India's low car penetration—21 per 1,000 people, as against Europe’s 850 per 1,000, and United States 960 per 1,000, will make the shift from ICE to EVs smoother as the country will not have any legacy problems, Kant believes. India is committed to decreasing carbon emissions by 25% by 2030. EVs are one way India can achieve this target, as a signatory to the Paris Agreement on climate change. Both Acma and Siam have collectively developed a localisation roadmap for the automobile sector, said Kenichi Ayukawa, President, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam), and MD & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India. Image Source Also read: Thirteen states in India approve dedicated electric vehicle policies