Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday urged automobile manufacturers to bring down the prices of electric vehicles (EVs), saying that lower rates are key to wider adoption amid efforts to reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuel imports.
“I am requesting the automobile industry to reduce the rate in view of the competition and in the interest of the consumer. The event sought to recognise the vehicles, people and innovations shaping India’s automotive industry. “This (programme) is very useful for the export market. A lot of manufacturers from across the world are bringing their cars to India and taking Bharat NCAP’s approval. “Aready, the ethanol economy is very successful. We have never received a single complaint. Even a lot of people sitting here must have E20 in their vehicles. Is there any complaint?
Since 2022, we have had four crore four-wheelers and 20 crore two-wheelers running on E20 petrol. Because demand currently outstrips supply, noting that lithium-ion battery costs have dropped from USD 150 to USD 50 per kilowatt-hour since the government decided to push EVs, Gadkari said prices have stayed high. Because of competition and improve the quality,” he said at the inaugural HT Auto Leaderboard Awards 2026, if the production is surplus, 100% they will have to reduce the rate.
Electric mobility will be the future, Gadkari said. He said the aim is to “make India a global export hub” in the automobile sector. “Brand India through quality and safety,” he said. He also spoke on Bharat NCAP — the “New Car Safety Assessment Programme” that seeks to provide “star ratings” to automobiles based upon their performance in crash tests. So, this is a success story,” he said. The Union minister also said India’s automotive industry has the potential to become the largest in the world, describing it as a key engine of economic growth. There is no complaint,” he said.
