Nitin Gadkari Says EV Prices Will Match Petrol Cars Within 6 Months

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari (Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India) has once again made a bold statement that’s got the entire auto world buzzing and perhaps even a few petrol car makers a bit nervous.

Speaking at a recent event in New Delhi, Mr Gadkari stated that electric vehicle (EV) prices in India will match those of petrol cars within the next 4–6 months.

But he didn’t stop there.

He also reminded everyone that India spends ₹22 lakh crore every year on fuel imports, and reaffirmed his mission to make India the world’s number one automobile industry within the next five years.

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What Exactly Did Gadkari Say?

According to reports from Business Standard and Times of India, Gadkari made the statement while speaking at a FICCI event in early October 2025.

His exact words were:

“Within the next 4–6 months, the cost of electric vehicles will be equivalent to petrol vehicles.”

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time he’s made such a prediction. Back in March 2025, he said something similar — giving EVs about six months to reach price parity.

So this is not a one-off statement. It’s a repeated assurance — showing how confident the minister is about India’s EV transition.

His larger point was clear: India needs to cut down its massive oil import bill and move quickly toward clean, self-reliant mobility.

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Why Is He So Confident?

Gadkari’s optimism comes from the momentum building across the EV ecosystem.

• Battery prices are falling:

The cost of lithium-ion batteries has dropped sharply in the past two years, and India is finally seeing the rise of local battery manufacturing plants.

The upcoming Giga factories in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu could further bring costs down.

• Government policies are helping:

EVs currently attract only 5% GST, and the same rate applies to EV chargers and charging stations.

In comparison, petrol and diesel cars are taxed at 18% for smaller vehicles and up to 40% for larger cars and SUVs under the new GST structure introduced in September 2025.

Schemes like FAME-II and Production Linked Incentives (PLI) for advanced cell and battery manufacturing are also supporting automakers, helping reduce costs and accelerate the shift toward clean mobility.

• Local manufacturing is growing:

Indian brands like Tata Motors, Mahindra, and Ola Electric are ramping up EV production and sourcing more components locally. The result? Reduced import costs and better control over pricing.

To put it simply, Gadkari’s confidence comes from a mix of policy, progress, and purpose.

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Let’s Talk Reality

Now, as someone who follows EV prices almost every week, here’s what things actually look like today:

• Tata Tiago.ev starts around ₹8 lakh — already close to its petrol version.

• The Tata Nexon EV starts at ₹12.5 lakh — roughly ₹3–4 lakh higher than its petrol counterpart.

• Mahindra XUV400 sits between ₹15–17 lakh — higher than most ICE SUVs in its category.

So yes, smaller EVs are getting close to parity, but bigger models still have some distance to cover.

Will all EVs reach petrol-level pricing in 4–6 months? Probably not. But could entry-level EVs — like hatchbacks and compact SUVs — get there? Absolutely possible.

If Tata or Mahindra release refreshed models with smaller battery packs or local cells, the gap could close even sooner.

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Why This News Still Matters

Even if prices don’t match perfectly in six months, Gadkari’s statement sends a powerful message.

He’s pushing the industry to think faster, act bolder, and believe that EVs are no longer the future — they’re the present.

When a Union Minister keeps repeating this message on national platforms, it builds confidence among manufacturers, investors, and consumers alike.

And let’s not forget the bigger picture:
If India can even cut a portion of that ₹22 lakh crore import bill, it means less pressure on our economy and cleaner air in our cities. That’s a win-win.

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Community Response: What Industry Experts Are Saying

When we shared the news — “Nitin Gadkari Says EV Prices Will Match Petrol Cars in 4–6 Months | India’s ₹22 Lakh Crore Fuel Import Push” — on our LinkedIn page(1.82 lakh followers), it drew a wave of mixed but insightful reactions from industry experts and EV leaders.

Here’s what some of them said 👇

Santosh Chitapure – Auto Industry Veteran (24+ yrs)

“We are creating an alternate option and there is a push to adopt EVs for the larger cause of being sustainable and reducing tailpipe emissions.
But to create real pull, EV costs must come below ICE vehicles — only then will people feel incentivized and happy to adopt.”

NR Bhagwat – Leader/Expert – Software Defined Vehicles

“With better infrastructure, the masses will adopt EVs irrespective of prices!”

R. Siva – Sales, Service, Satisfaction (3S)

“We spend ₹22 lakh crore yearly on fuels — but what about the fuel income coming back into the country through consumers?”

Ethan L. – EV Product Executive (Commercial EVs)

“EV prices must get closer to petrol cars, and the charging network needs to expand rapidly for adoption to happen naturally and sustainably.”

Surya Pratim Mukherjee – VP, Software Development

“Metro cities are already choked with traffic and pollution. Instead of fixing what’s broken, we should focus on building future-ready, planned, sustainable cities.”

Kuldeep Maheshwari – Head Operations, Treasury Centre India

“For all cars — petrol or EV — we still need better roads. Even the Surat–Mumbai stretch is struggling.”

Anil Barve – ERP & Project Management Expert

“Even with E20 fuel, petrol cars will still be costly compared to EVs, especially above ₹30 lakh.”

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My Take as an EV Enthusiast

Honestly, I love Nitin Gadkari’s enthusiasm and his strong ambition for EV adoption.

Yes, sometimes he sounds contradictory — especially when he talks about ethanol-blended fuel and electric mobility in the same breath — but let’s give credit where it’s due.

He’s been one of the few ministers who have consistently championed EVs in India for years now.

And that’s exactly why I think we need to balance optimism with realism.

Equal pricing for every EV and petrol vehicle within six months feels a bit unlikely.

But equal pricing for popular entry-level models? That’s definitely possible — and, in some cases, it’s already happening.

If it happens faster, that’s fantastic.

But even if it takes another year or two, the important thing is that India is moving firmly in the right direction.

The shift toward cleaner, smarter, and self-reliant mobility is unstoppable, and that’s something worth celebrating.

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Final Thought

Whether or not EVs match petrol prices in six months, one thing is certain:
The electric revolution in India is no longer a “maybe.” It’s happening — faster than anyone imagined even five years ago.

So, the next time someone says EVs are too expensive, maybe tell them —
“Just wait six months. Gadkari ji says otherwise!”

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