Reflecting on the industry’s changing views, Gadkari noted that automotive giants in India initially dismissed his advocacy for electric vehicles a decade ago. “Ten years ago, when I was advocating for electric vehicles, the big players in the automotive sector didn’t take me seriously. Today, they admit they may have missed the bus,” he observed.

In addition to discussing EV cost parity, Gadkari addressed the critical issue of road safety. He pointed out that poorly designed and engineered roads are significant contributors to traffic accidents across the country. “Road safety is a serious concern for us. It’s not just about vehicle safety, but also about how we design and engineer our roads,” Gadkari emphasized. He urged automobile companies to play a role in improving safety measures as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitments.

Gadkari also forecasted a notable reduction in India’s dependency on imports of lithium-ion batteries, currently valued at ₹1.68 lakh crore. He anticipated that this reliance could decrease substantially in the next 2-3 years due to increased domestic production and advancements in alternative battery technologies.