A Discussion on Tracking India’s Electric Vehicle Industrial Evolution

Why does it matter? Why now?

With the diffusion of Electric Vehicle (EV) technology in India, upcoming and established firms have begun launching new products, services and business models to increase their competitiveness. Ripples of change are becoming evident in automotive, power, renewables, energy storage and material industries. Product development and manufacturing practices are evolving, new players are making a foray into vehicle assembly and allied products, and organizations are being re-structured.

To kick-start a policy conversation, WRI India will be launching a strategic commentary titled Tracking India’s Industrial Evolution with Electric Mobility in this event. This commentary tracks 31 strategic moves of electric mobility and associated product firms through case study research – how they choose to expand and diversify to gain a competitive advantage. We used the framework of Four Dimensions (4D) of Competitive Scope – to map the change in a firm’s behaviour. The four dimensions are segment, vertical, geography and industry. This exercise is intended to give policymakers a micro-view into the electric vehicle industry and allied activities in India. This would also be the first step in understanding the larger industry, and associated economic shift, as India switches to electric mobility. It will also be foundational to evaluating the current and upcoming EV value chain system in India, whose resilience is closely tied to the country’s economic and social recovery from Covid-19, and resource-efficient future.

Who is it relevant for?

State and central government policymakers, industry associations, civil society organizations – stakeholders focusing on industrial ecology, labour, education, skill development, transport technologies and economic affairs.

What will be covered in the discussions?

Upon the launch of the strategic commentary, we will briefly present the main observations and recommendations. We will also invite the panellists to ideate new approaches to some of the vital aspects of EV value chain – circular business models, leveraging incoming businesses from a diversity of new sectors, investing in knowledge economy, human capital, and innovation and R&D.

SPEAKERS

• Dr OP Agarwal, CEO, WRI India, will deliver the opening remarks
• Mr Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, Principal Secretary to Government of Telangana
• Mr Jyothilal KR, IAS, Principal Secretary to Government of Kerala
• Mr Haimanti Poddar, Senior Energy, Climate Change & Urban Adviser, British Deputy High Commission
• Mr Vivekananda Hallekere, Co-Founder and CEO, Bounce
• Dr Tom Barnes, Senior Research Fellow, Australian Catholic University & Author of ‘Making Cars in New India’
• Mr Randheer Singh, Senior Specialist, E-Mobility & Core team, NITI Aayog
• Mr Neha Yadav, Senior Project Associate, WRI India (Author)
• Mr Pawan Mulukutla, Director, Electric Mobility, WRI India (Author)
• Mr Madhav Pai, Executive Director, WRI India Ross Centre (Moderator)