India launches manufacturing programme for EVs, batteries and components

The Union cabinet chaired by prime minister Narendra Modi has approved the 'National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage'. The mission will consist of an inter-ministerial steering committee chaired by the CEO of NITI Aayog to promote clean, connected, shared, sustainable and holistic mobility initiatives.

The national mission will finalise and implement strategies for transformative mobility and phased manufacturing programmes (PMP) for a five-year period till 2024 for electric vehicles (EVs), EV components and batteries. It will also finalise the details of PMP for the EV ecosystem and drive its implementation. The government says details of the value addition that can be achieved with each phase of localisation will be finalised by the mission with a clear ‘Make in India’ strategy for EV components as well as battery technologies.

A phased roadmap to implement battery manufacturing at Giga-scale will be an initial focus on large-scale module and pack assembly plants by 2019-20, which will be followed by integrated cell manufacturing by 2021-22.  The details of the PMP for batteries shall also be formulated by the mission, which will also ensure holistic and comprehensive growth of the battery manufacturing industry in India.

The body will also coordinate with key stakeholders in ministries/departments and the states to integrate various initiatives to transform mobility in India. The actions in this regard will benefit all citizens as the aim of the programme is to promote ‘ease of living’ and enhance the quality of life of citizens. In addition this will also create employment opportunities through ‘Make-in-India’ across a range of skillsets.

The aim of the initiative is to send a clear signal to the industry to make the necessary investments to localise the EV value chain.