India’s automotive industry will need to sharply accelerate reskilling and upskilling as electric vehicles, artificial intelligence, and software-defined vehicles transform traditional job roles, industry and skilling leaders said at the ASDC Annual Conclave 2026.
Speakers at the conclave said the pace of technological change means skilling can no longer be treated as a standalone training exercise, but needs to become a strategic priority for automakers, component suppliers, dealerships and the wider automotive ecosystem.
“Skilling can no longer be seen as only a training activity. Skills have to become strategic priorities for the automotive industry,” an ASDC representative said.
The industry is increasingly becoming a combination of mechanical engineering, software, electronics, computing and artificial intelligence, requiring workers to continuously upgrade their capabilities.
The shift is expected to affect not only new employees entering the sector but also technicians, manufacturing workers, maintenance staff and engineers already employed across the automotive value chain.
EV, AI Skills Enter Curriculum
Industry representatives said automotive curricula will increasingly need to include EVs, batteries, connected vehicles, advanced driver assistance systems, software-defined vehicles, automation, robotics, data and digital diagnostics.
The industry also needs more flexible and modular programmes that allow existing workers to acquire new skills without stepping away from their jobs.
“Lifelong learning must become a normal part of the automotive workforce,” the ASDC representative said.
The focus also needs to shift from measuring the number of people trained or certified to outcomes such as employment, productivity, earning potential and career progression, speakers said.
Companies, in turn, will need to take a larger role in defining job roles, occupational standards and curricula to ensure workers are being trained for skills that are actually required in factories and workshops.
NSDC Seeks Auto Industry’s Participation in ITI Upgrade
The National Skill Development Corporation is also seeking greater industry participation in the government’s programme to modernise around 1,000 Industrial Training Institutes.
The programme envisages a hub-and-spoke model involving around 200 hub ITIs and 800 spoke institutions.
An NSDC representative said the organisation is in the process of identifying around 10 clusters where it wants to work with industry and sector skill councils.
The automotive sector could play a significant role in determining courses, equipment and training requirements under the programme.
NSDC Eyes Courses with IITs, IIMs
NSDC has also aligned with around 15 IITs and IIMs and wants to work with companies to develop upskilling programmes for existing employees.
The model could allow companies to combine their internal training programmes with courses designed in association with leading academic institutions and sector skill councils.
Employees could receive recognised certifications and academic credits that can potentially be used for further education.
NSDC said the initiative could be particularly relevant for employees at supervisory and managerial levels who already undergo regular company training but do not always receive externally recognised qualifications.
AI Expected to Change Jobs, Not Simply Eliminate Them
The National Council for Vocational Education and Training said artificial intelligence is likely to change how automotive jobs are performed rather than simply replace workers.
“The impact of AI on automobile employment is not primarily about job replacement. It is about how existing work is performed,” an NCVET representative said.
Technicians and workers will increasingly need a combination of traditional mechanical capabilities and digital skills.
NCVET said occupational standards and qualifications will therefore need continuous revision to keep pace with technology.
It also called for greater standardisation of vocational qualifications across the country, with common competency standards that can be recognised across employers and potentially in overseas markets.
Informal Mechanics Need Certification Pathways
Another major challenge is bringing India’s large unorganised automotive workforce into the formal skilling ecosystem.
Independent mechanics and technicians often acquire considerable expertise through years of work without receiving formal certification.
Recognition of Prior Learning programmes could allow experienced workers to demonstrate their existing skills, receive certification and subsequently undergo additional training in areas such as EVs, electronics and digital diagnostics.
Speakers said this would become increasingly important as vehicles become more complex and repair and maintenance work becomes more technology-intensive.
The need for skilled technicians also extends beyond productivity to road safety, they said, as poor vehicle maintenance and incorrect repairs can have serious safety consequences.
India can Emerge as Global Supplier of Skilled Talent
The conclave also positioned India’s young workforce as a potential competitive advantage as global automotive and advanced manufacturing industries face changing skill requirements.
Speakers said India could become a supplier of skilled technical talent to international markets if its training and certification systems meet globally recognised standards.
At WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, ASDC is supporting 12 Indian competitors across 10 skill categories, including automobile technology, electric-vehicle technology, autobody repair, additive manufacturing, Industry 4.0, industrial control and robotic systems integration.
The broader challenge, speakers said, is to ensure India’s demographic advantage translates into a workforce capable of supporting the next phase of automotive manufacturing.
“What brought us here today will not take us there,” one of the speakers said, referring to the shift towards EVs, connected vehicles, ADAS, artificial intelligence and software-driven mobility.
(With inputs from Anurag Chaturvedi, Shahkar Abidi and Mukul Yudhveer Singh)