India Aiming for Global Auto Manufacturing Leadership: Nitin Gadkari

Gandhinagar, Jan 12 (KNN) Union Minister Nitin Gadkari stated that the government's objective is to establish India as the leading global automobile manufacturing hub, targeting a Rs 25 lakh crore industry in the automotive sector, on Thursday.

Speaking at a seminar during the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit in Gandhinagar, the minister urged automobile manufacturers to invest in clean technologies, particularly in electric vehicles, warning them not to "miss the bus."

“We have recently surpassed Japan and become number three in terms of automobile manufacturing," Gadkari stated.

He highlighted "We aim to reach 25,000 lakh crore and become the number 1 manufacturing hub of the world."

Addressing the issue of air pollution in major cities, the Minister of Road Transport and Highways highlighted, "As a transport minister, we are responsible for 40 per cent of air pollution… We import 85 per cent of fossils… In our country, 40 per cent CO2 emission is seen in the transport sector… We need to find an option that is import-substitute, cost-effective, pollution-free and indigenous."

Gadkari also mentioned the significant challenge of high costs associated with lithium batteries.

He said, "We have 6 per cent of the world’s lithium reserves in Jammu & Kashmir… recently, I asked (officials) to mine it quickly, as we import 1,200 tonnes of lithium-ion. If we get this done, we can capture the Electric Vehicle market of the world."

(KNN Bureau)