Sustainable Mobility takes centre stage at SIAM's 63rd Annual Convention

The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the apex body representing leading automobile manufacturers of the country, commemorated its 63rd Annual Convention deliberating on the way ahead for Sustainable Mobility.

At the 63rd SIAM Annual Convention, the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi in his message mentioned that for over six decades, SIAM has been serving the Nation admirably. He said India is the 5th largest economy and is soon poised to reach the top 3. The Prime Minister also noted the Indian Auto Industry’s efforts towards decarbonisation through introduction of vehicles with a wide range of powertrain technologies. “By 2047, we aspire to realise the vision of building a sustainable, self-reliant, strong and developed India,” he said.

The inaugural session, themed “Sustainable Mobility – The Way Ahead for Indian Automobile Industry”, Chief Guest Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India commented, "In 2014, the global automobile sector was ranked 7th, but today, it has climbed to the 3rd position. The automotive sector serves as a growth engine for our nation, aligning perfectly with the Prime Minister's vision to elevate India from its current fifth largest economy in the world to third. Our ultimate goal is to become the world's leading automobile hub.” He requested the auto industry to work on expeditiously increasing the share of green technologies, such as biofuels, electric and hydrogen. Higher use of biofuels will lead to aligning the auto industry’s approach with global biofuel alliance announced during the G20.

Guest of honour, Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey, Union Minister of Heavy Industries, Government of India said, “India's commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070 and reducing 1 billion tonnes of carbon emissions by 2030 aligns with the ambitious Amrit Kaal: Vision @ 2047.” He also announced that the Government of India has extended the PLI scheme by another year to enable the auto industry to reap benefits of the incentives being provided for manufacturing advanced automotive technologies.

During the session, Vinod Aggarwal, President of SIAM and Managing Director and CEO of Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles underscored the imperative need for sustainable mobility to secure a better tomorrow. He mentioned, “Over the past two years, we've witnessed remarkable growth, with the industry's current size standing at Rs 12.46 lakh crore, including exports worth Rs 3 lakh crore.” He highlighted the six pillars of sustainability on which the auto industry and SIAM is presently focussing with close association with Government of India viz. Javik Pahal (biofuel), Vidyutikaran (electrification), Gas Gatisheelta (gaseous fuels), Harit Hydrogen (Green Hydrogen), Chakriyata (Recycling) and finally Surakshit Safar (Safe Journey). He also mentioned the progress undertaken by the industry to increase its localisation content.

Shailesh Chandra, Vice President of SIAM and Managing Director of Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility said, "The Government's commitment to the Amrit Kal vision 2027, along with the imperative to achieve net-zero emissions, sets the stage for a forward-looking India. We are witnessing a remarkable transition towards electric vehicles (EVs), aligning our industry with global benchmarks. SIAM has embarked on a proactive journey, with a strong focus on biofuels and a future centered around green energies. SIAM's commitment not only resonates with India's environmental goals but also underscores our dedication to saving lives on the road. Our collective commitment to sustainability is the path toward a safer, more holistic future that lies ahead for the country."

R. Dinesh, President of CII and Executive Vice Chairman of TVS Supply Chain Solutions was also present at the session.