Sulajja Firodia Motwani emphasised on creating a holistic ecosystem for the growth of the electric vehicle segment and also batted for the continuation of incentives for buying EVs to sustain the demand for the next few years
Sulajja Firodia Motwani, Chairperson of the FICCI EV Committee and CEO of Kinetic Green, stressed the importance of maintaining the Make in India initiative without dilution and advocating for a consistent policy in the electric vehicle (EV) sector. This comes in the context of American electric carmaker Tesla seeking special incentives for its potential manufacturing facility in India.
Motwani, who leads a company specialising in battery-operated vehicles, emphasised the need for a comprehensive ecosystem to support the growth of the EV segment. She also advocated for the continuation of incentives to purchase EVs to sustain demand in the coming years.
Expressing the view that Make in India policies should not be reversed, Motwani highlighted the investments made in local manufacturing and cautioned against a potential shift back to importing components if policies are not followed diligently. She underlined the importance of a consistent and long-term policy to create competitiveness in the market.
On the issue of Tesla's entry into the Indian market, Motwani emphasised the need for clarity and consistency in policies. She stressed that policies should not be subject to sudden changes, and a clear and unwavering stance would benefit both domestic and international players.
Motwani also revealed FICCI's proposal to include small electric cars priced up to Rs 20 lakh in the incentives under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles (FAME) India scheme. FICCI has submitted recommendations to the Heavy Industries Ministry for FAME 3, suggesting incentives for private cars due to growing public interest.
While acknowledging the eventual reduction in battery prices, Motwani advocated for the continuation of demand incentives for the next 3–5 years. She urged the establishment of task forces and deeper inter-ministerial dialogues to plan the next five years of ecosystem creation for the EV segment. Motwani emphasised the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to support the sustained growth of the EV market in India.