The Gujarat government, led by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, is celebrating ‘Vikas Saptah’ from 7 to 15 October, with ‘Industry Entrepreneurship Day’ on 10 October to honour the state’s industrial innovation and manufacturing strength. Marking the occasion, the government announced that between FY 2008–09 and FY 2022–23, the state’s automobile manufacturing output has grown 22-fold, transforming Gujarat into India’s leading automotive hub. According to official data, the production of motor vehicles, trailers, and semi-trailers in Gujarat rose from Rs 32 billion in 2008–09 to an all-time high of Rs 714 billion in 2022–23. The sector expanded twelvefold between FY 2015–16 and FY 2022–23, when output climbed from Rs 58 billion to Rs 714 billion. The government highlighted that post-pandemic recovery was particularly strong — output doubled in just two years, jumping 109 per cent from Rs 341 billion in FY 2020–21 to Rs 714 billion in FY 2022–23. In comparison, production in 2018–19 stood at Rs 270 billion, nearly tripling by 2022–23. With its strategic location and advanced port infrastructure, Gujarat has cemented its position as a global automotive export hub. Data from the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry shows that in FY 2024–25, Gujarat exported Rs 2.63 billion worth of auto components and Rs 111.7 billion worth of motor vehicles, totalling Rs 137.9 billion — representing a 31.5 per cent increase in vehicle exports over the previous year. During the same year, Gujarat exported 177,924 vehicles to 102 countries, including South Africa, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Chile, the UAE, Mexico, and Colombia, underscoring the state’s expanding global footprint. The government noted that over the last 15 years, Gujarat has seen rapid growth across the automobile value chain — from manufacturing and components to logistics and R&D. With the presence of leading companies such as Suzuki, Tata Motors, Hero MotoCorp, and Honda, the Sanand and Mandal–Becharaji Special Investment Regions (MBSIR) have evolved into the state’s core automotive zones. Sanand hosts a strong ecosystem of auto component suppliers, including Tata Motors and JBM, while Mandal–Becharaji continues to attract global manufacturers with its export-driven infrastructure. These hubs are pivotal in shaping Gujarat as India’s ‘Automotive Heartland’, advancing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Make in India” and “Make for the World”, and reaffirming the state’s leadership in industrial and manufacturing excellence.