Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has called on automobile dealers to play a more proactive role in accelerating electric vehicle (EV) adoption, urging them to motivate customers to shift towards cleaner mobility solutions as part of Delhi’s broader anti-pollution strategy.
Speaking at the FADA Vyapar Delhi conference organised by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations, Gupta said dealers remain a critical interface between policy intent and consumer behaviour, and their role will be key in driving the transition to electric mobility.
“You have such a big domain. thousands of people use your vehicles daily. You should motivate them to shift to clean-energy vehicles,” she said.
Her remarks come as the Delhi government prepares to roll out an expanded EV policy framework that combines incentives with a phased move towards stricter regulations.
Shift from incentives to mandates
Gupta indicated that while the current EV policy framework is built on subsidies and incentives, the long-term direction is towards compulsory adoption of clean-energy vehicles.
“Gradually, all these things will be made compulsory. there is a time frame in which we can get rid of pollution from Delhi,” she said, signalling that policy measures could tighten significantly by 2027–2028.
The policy includes direct subsidies, tax waivers, registration fee exemptions and scrappage incentives, aimed at accelerating adoption before regulatory mandates take effect.
Dealers at the centre of transition
Positioning dealers as key enablers of the EV shift, Gupta emphasised their influence on buyer decisions.
“You should motivate people. take them towards EVs,” she said, urging the dealer network to actively support the transition.
She also indicated that the government is open to working with stakeholders to improve ease of doing business and strengthen vehicle registrations within Delhi.
Charging infra and ecosystem gaps
While backing the expansion of charging infrastructure, Gupta suggested that current targets may not be sufficient.
Referring to suggestions around setting up 150 charging stations, she said, “How will 150 stations be enough?” indicating the need for a more aggressive rollout.
She also flagged long-term challenges, particularly around battery disposal. “In the future, there will be a mountain of batteries,” she said, adding that the government is working on EV waste-processing systems.
Alongside EV adoption, the government is scaling investments in public transport and last-mile connectivity, including ₹10,000 crore towards metro expansion and 1,000 new permits for women to operate electric autos free of cost.