New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated theBharat Mobility Global Expo 2025at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, highlighting India’s commitment togreen technology,electric vehicles(EVs), hydrogen fuel, andbiofuels. The expo, India’s largest mobility event, is being held across three venues in the National Capital Region and features nine concurrent shows, over 20 conferences, and participation from global exhibitors and visitors.Addressing the gathering, Modi reflected on the growth of India’s automobile sector, which expanded by nearly 12% in the past year. “India is currently the third-largest passenger vehicle market globally, and our annual car sales surpass the population of many countries, with approximately 2.5 crore vehicles sold,” he said.Modi also underscored the rapid rise inelectric mobilityin India. “Electric vehicle sales have surged 640 times over the past decade. From 2,600 units sold annually a decade ago to over 16.8 lakh EVs in 2024, the growth demonstrates India’s potential in this sector. Under the PM E-Drive scheme, support will be provided for 28 lakh EV purchases, including 14,000 electric buses and the installation of 70,000 fast chargers across the country,” he said.The Prime Minister emphasized that India’s focus on infrastructure development has been a significant driver of the auto industry’s growth. He noted that ₹11 lakh crore was allocated for infrastructure in the last year’s budget, with major investments in highways, expressways, and multimodal connectivity under the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan. “Ease of travel is now a priority for India, and these initiatives are creating new opportunities for the auto sector,” Modi said.On green energy, Modi highlighted the government’s efforts to promote alternative fuels, including solar power and hydrogen fuel. “The ₹18,000 crore PLI scheme for advanced battery storage has paved the way for significant investments in energy storage. Startups and innovators are urged to work on creating batteries and storage systems using locally available materials,” he said.The Prime Minister reflected on the importance of India’s growing middle class and youth population in shaping the future of mobility. “India has both the need and the aspiration to drive the auto industry forward. Over the past decade, 25 crore Indians have risen out of poverty to form a neo-middle class, many of whom are purchasing their first vehicles. This demographic shift will fuel the demand for vehicles in the coming years,” he said.Highlighting the success of the Make in India initiative, Modi said that PLI schemes have generated over ₹2.25 lakh crore in sales and created more than 1.5 lakh direct jobs in the sector. He noted that the industry had attracted $36 billion in foreign direct investment over the past four years, a figure expected to grow.Reiterating the government’s support for vehicle scrapping, Modi urged manufacturers to introduce incentive
Ven. Gen 17th, 2025
