Tata and Mahindra will Block Tesla’s India Success: Former Niti Aayog CEO

Amitabh Kant, the country’s G20 Sherpa and former NITI Aayog CEO, has recently expressed strong confidence and advocated for India’s leadership in the electric vehicle sector.

At the second edition of BS Manthan, Business Standard’s flagship thought leadership summit, Amitabh Kant asserted that Indian Automakers such as Tata Motors and Mahindra will ensure that foreign brands like Tesla do not dominate the Indian electric market.

He strongly believes that Tata and Mahindra’s competitive pricing will make it difficult for Tesla to dominate the Indian market.

“Tatas and Mahindras will not allow Tesla to succeed, their prices are very competitive,” he expressed.

He further mentioned that he has personally shifted to EVs, sharing, “I drive an EV and have just booked a Mahindra EV.”

At the event, Kant highlighted the importance of India becoming a global leader in EV manufacturing, especially in the electric two-wheeler and three-wheeler segments, with a strong export foundation.

He also warned that if India fails to electrify these segments, it could jeopardize its market dominance in the process. With strong government support and industrial backing, India has the potential to position itself as a key player in the global EV supply chain.

He also emphasised the importance of a nationwide shift to electric mobility.

“Every Indian should move to an EV, and the government should not buy any fossil fuel cars. The government should become the first driver of EV adoption,” he stated, highlighting the need for increased government adoption to support this shift.