'Maharashtra Will Become EV Capital' - Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the state will become India's largest electric vehicle manufacturing hub during the inauguration of Tesla's first Experience Centre in Mumbai on Tuesday.

The world-renowned EV manufacturer Tesla has officially entered the Indian market with its Mumbai facility serving as an Experience Centre, delivery location, logistics unit, and service center.

Speaking at an industry event in Mumbai, Fadnavis emphasized that Maharashtra is taking strides in attracting major EV investments and creating a robust ecosystem for sustainable transportation.

"Maharashtra will lead India's EV industry in the near future. After Mumbai, services will expand to two more Indian cities, and in Mumbai alone four large charging hubs and 32 charging stations are being set up," the Chief Minister stated.

The state's position as an emerging EV hub is supported by current market data. Maharashtra leads India in electric vehicle sales with 246,221 units sold in FY2025, representing a 16% increase. The state accounts for 211,880 electric two-wheelers with an 18% market share, 17,133 electric cars and SUVs with a 16% share, and 2,104 electric buses with a 24% market share.

The state government introduced the EV Policy 2025 in May, which provides financial incentives and infrastructure support to encourage a 30% increase in EV adoption by 2030. Under this policy, transport and commercial EVs can receive incentives up to Rs 2 lakh, while electric buses can get benefits of Rs 20 lakh, available for 25,000 four-wheelers and 1,500 buses.

EVs registered in Maharashtra will not pay road tax or registration fees. The policy requires charging stations every 25 kilometers on state and national highways, with every government parking lot having at least one EV charging station. New residential buildings must include community charging points, while new commercial buildings should dedicate 50% of their parking spaces for EV charging.

Fadnavis noted that Maharashtra is building an entire ecosystem including battery production, charging infrastructure, and research and development centers. The state government aims to ensure that at least 10% of all new vehicle registrations in the coming years are electric, with dedicated EV parks and clusters planned in key industrial corridors.

Major manufacturers including Tata Motors, Mahindra Electric, and Ola Electric have established or announced investments in Maharashtra's EV manufacturing sector. Mahindra & Mahindra's plant in Chakan, Maharashtra, is expected to reach peak production capacity of 200,000 electric vehicles annually from 2027 to 2029.

Maharashtra's strategic advantages include its location with major ports like Mumbai and JNPT, robust industrial infrastructure with dedicated industrial parks, automotive clusters, and EV-specific zones. Cities such as Pune, Aurangabad, and Nashik are emerging as hotspots for electric vehicle manufacturing due to their well-connected road networks and proximity to suppliers.

By December 2024, Maharashtra had 3,728 public charging stations, ranking second nationally after Karnataka's 5,765 stations. India aims to make 30% of new vehicles electric by 2030, with government schemes like FAME India promoting EV adoption and manufacturing.