India needs 100 pc indigenous EVs to become self-reliant: Gadkari

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has said India needs 100 per cent indigenous electric vehicles (EVs) to become self-reliant.

Terming the automobile industry as the backbone of Indian industry, he said the sector provides employment to 4.5 crore people.Gadkari further said the size of India's automobile industry had increased to Rs 22 lakh crore.

"To become a self-reliant India, we need 100 per cent indigenous electric vehicles and this is our dream," Gadkari said on Friday evening while inaugurating six new manufacturing facilities of electric mobility company EKA Mobility and its group companies, including Pinnacle Industries, in Pune.

Speaking at the event, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H D Kumaraswamy said, "Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is making rapid strides towards becoming a global manufacturing powerhouse."

"The expansion of indigenous manufacturing capabilities in electric commercial vehicles, automotive components and engineering solutions reflects the growing confidence of Indian industry in our manufacturing ecosystem," he added.

EKA Mobility, together with Pinnacle Industries Ltd and its group companies, inaugurated six new manufacturing facilities at EKA Avirbhava in Pune. The ceremony marked the formal opening of six facilities across Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Together, they form one of India's largest integrated manufacturing platforms for electric commercial vehicles.

The facilities were inaugurated by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis; Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari; Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H D Kumaraswamy; Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar; B L Santhosh, National General Secretary (Organisation) of the BJP; Murlidhar Mohol, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Cooperation; Chandrakant Dada Patil, Maharashtra Minister of Higher and Technical Education; and Dr Abhay Firodia, Chairman of Force Motors Ltd.

Union Ministers, the Maharashtra Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister joined EKA Mobility and its group companies to unveil a manufacturing ecosystem worth more than Rs 3,500 crore for India's electric commercial mobility sector.

Speaking about the event, Dr Sudhir Mehta, Founder and Chairman of EKA Mobility and Group Companies, said, "EKA Avirbhava marks a defining milestone in our journey of building a future-ready, globally competitive manufacturing ecosystem rooted in India. The inauguration of six manufacturing facilities across our group reflects our unwavering commitment to innovation, indigenous engineering, sustainable mobility, and manufacturing excellence."

"These facilities are more than infrastructure; they represent our vision of creating world-class capabilities, generating meaningful employment, nurturing talent, and contributing to India's emergence as a global manufacturing powerhouse. As we take this significant step forward, we remain focused on delivering transformative mobility solutions that create lasting value for our customers, our nation, and future generations," Mehta added.

EKA Mobility and its group companies operate 11 manufacturing facilities spread across 120 acres, six of which were inaugurated at EKA Avirbhava. The facilities have the capacity to manufacture more than 40,000 electric vehicles annually.

The group has invested more than Rs 3,500 crore in building this ecosystem, making it one of the largest investments in commercial electric vehicles in the country. It has also invested more than Rs 600 crore in research and development.

With the expansion of its manufacturing operations, the group expects to generate over 2.5 lakh jobs in the next five years across its operations and the wider ecosystem.