Bengaluru: At day 1 of the ETAutoTech Summit 2025, a convergence of visionaries and leaders from throughout India’s and the world’s mobility ecosystem shared a typical perception that India stands on the cusp of worldwide automotive management. The discussions by the day spanned electrical mobility, digital transformation, AI integration, sustainability, and the pressing must scale indigenous capabilities.In a stirring keynote, Dr. Andy Palmer, World Auto Trade Veteran and Chairman, Inobat Auto, referred to as on India to reject dependence on exterior provide chains, particularly from China, and as an alternative make investments deeply in home ecosystems. “Why would you let your trade be subservient to Chinese language provide?” he requested.
Reflecting on his 46-year profession, which has seen the trade transition from ICE to mass-market electrification, Dr Palmer outlined a three-point technique for India’s management in EVs– construct home battery techniques, recycling services, and expert manpower; scale EV charging infrastructure, and pilot artificial gas stations; and implement circularity, advancing end-to-end recycling.
Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairman, INSPACe, traced his journey from auto to area tech, emphasising how India’s auto trade has reached a stage the place it may lead globally. Nevertheless, he identified that two foundational challenges persist, specifically high quality and R&D funding.
Create your house within the historical past of Indian auto. Don’t simply construct for the market; construct to steer, Dr Goenka mentioned.
“Why would you let your trade be subservient to Chinese language provide?”Dr Andy Palmer
“Why would you let your trade be subservient to Chinese language provide?”Dr Andy Palmer
India’s EV ambition
India should not chase the most affordable EV, however the smartest one, mentioned R Velusamy, President – Know-how & Product Improvement, Mahindra & Mahindra. He emphasised leveraging massive language fashions (LLMs) and AI for embedded intelligence in EV platforms.
Echoing this, Mahesh Babu, CEO, Swap Mobility, underscored India’s energy in IT and the chance to steer in AI and ML integration. “Everybody will get the battery and motor. What differentiates Swap is our give attention to software program and digitalisation.”
Because the post-COVID panorama drives client habits additional into the digital realm, Dr. Tapan Sahoo, Govt Officer – Digital Enterprise, Maruti Suzuki India, famous the rising position of startups.
He mentioned, “Startups carry recent concepts and tech, however they lack scale. That’s the place OEMs should step in.”His colleague, Tarun Aggarwal, Head – Engineering, Maruti Suzuki, added that liquid fuels nonetheless maintain untapped potential in India, warranting consideration alongside EVs.
“Create your house within the historical past of Indian auto. Don’t simply construct for the market; construct to steer.”Dr. Pawan Goenka
Information and AI
Dr. Calev Munigety, Head, Enterprise-AI, Bosch India, highlighted the untapped potential of Generative AI. “We’re simply firstly. The probabilities with Gen AI are infinite.”
Ujjwala Karale, Senior Deputy Director, ARAI, emphasised that the conversion of information to actionable information, and the collaboration between OEMs, is central to future innovation.
Including a techniques lens, Dr. Lokesh Agrawal, CTO, NBC Bearings, mentioned the rise of EVs calls for a shift to system engineering, particularly as scheduled upkeep turns into out of date. He careworn the necessity for lightweighting on the sub-system degree for improved effectivity and efficiency.
India can be constructing a regulatory setting that’s uniquely forward-looking. Dr. Reji Mathai, Director, ARAI, shared how India is the one nation to implement each E20 ethanol mixing and the BS-VI emission regime, emphasising the alignment of sustainability with security and innovation.
From embracing Gen AI to reshaping EV manufacturing and knowledge collaboration, the way forward for Indian mobility can be written not simply in factories—but in addition in code, in labs, and thru daring management.
