Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy, on Tuesday inaugurated the three-day Symposium on International Automotive Technology (SIAT) 2026 in Pune, underlining India’s commitment to safe, sustainable and technology-driven mobility as the country positions itself as a global automotive leader.
Organised by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) in association with SAE International and SAEINDIA, SIAT 2026 is being held during ARAI’s Diamond Jubilee year and focuses on innovation-led pathways for future-ready transportation systems. The event has brought together automotive experts, industry leaders, researchers and policymakers from India and abroad.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Kumaraswamy congratulated ARAI on six decades of contribution to India’s automotive ecosystem, describing its role in advancing safer, cleaner and more efficient mobility solutions as “commendable and transformative.” He said the symposium and ARAI’s milestone year mark a new chapter in India’s evolving mobility journey.
Highlighting India’s economic momentum, the Minister noted that the country has emerged as the world’s fourth-largest economy with a GDP of USD 4.18 trillion and is on track to become the third-largest economy in the coming years. He added that India’s projected GDP of USD 7.3 trillion by 2030 reflects growing confidence, industrial strength and global competitiveness.
Shri Kumaraswamy emphasised that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India has adopted a clear roadmap towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. He said initiatives such as Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat are strengthening advanced manufacturing sectors that will shape the nation’s future growth.
Stressing the importance of electric mobility, the Minister said it lies at the core of India’s transition to a sustainable transport ecosystem, helping reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels, cut emissions and generate new opportunities for domestic industry and the workforce.
Detailing government initiatives, he said the Ministry of Heavy Industries has taken decisive steps to accelerate EV adoption. The FAME-II scheme, with an outlay of ₹11,500 crore, has supported the adoption of over 16.71 lakh electric vehicles and enabled the sanctioning of more than 9,000 public charging stations. The PM E-DRIVE scheme, with an outlay of ₹10,900 crore, has further strengthened EV adoption through demand incentives and expanded charging infrastructure, with over 20 lakh electric vehicles sold under the scheme.
The Minister also highlighted the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Auto scheme, with an outlay of ₹25,938 crore, aimed at promoting domestic value addition and enhancing global competitiveness. Referring to the PLI-ACC scheme, he said the government is targeting the creation of 50 GWh of Advanced Chemistry Cell battery manufacturing capacity to strengthen long-term energy security. He also pointed to the recently approved Rare Earth Permanent Magnet (REPM) scheme, with a budgetary outlay of ₹7,280 crore, to promote indigenous manufacturing of critical components for electric vehicles, wind turbines, defence systems and electronics.
Drawing attention to environmental concerns, Shri Kumaraswamy said electrification of the commercial vehicle segment requires special focus, as these vehicles account for over 40 per cent of transport-related pollution. He informed that ₹2,000 crore has been earmarked under the PM E-DRIVE scheme for setting up more than 70,000 charging stations across the country to support EV adoption in this segment.
Sharing industry performance data, the Minister said vehicle production increased from 28.4 million units in FY 2023-24 to 31 million units in FY 2024-25, while exports rose from 4.5 million units to 5.36 million units during the same period, reflecting the impact of government efforts to build a clean, competitive and sustainable automotive sector.
During the event, Shri Kumaraswamy visited exhibition stalls, interacted with industry stakeholders, startups and researchers, and reviewed emerging technologies focused on passenger safety and mobility efficiency. He toured the ARAI Pavilion and Technology Pavilion, showcasing innovations in vehicle testing, safety systems, electrification and connected mobility.
The Minister also inaugurated three new facilities at ARAI’s Mobility Research Centre in Takwe, near Pune, aimed at strengthening safety, security and advanced research capabilities. He expressed confidence that these facilities would enhance India’s testing and certification infrastructure.
Appreciating the growing participation of MSMEs and startups, Shri Kumaraswamy said ARAI’s outreach initiatives have played a crucial role in nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship in the automotive sector. He expressed optimism that SIAT 2026 would serve as a vital platform for collaboration among researchers, technocrats and academicians, and reiterated the government’s commitment to building a resilient, innovation-driven and globally competitive automotive ecosystem aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat and Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
