From Horsepower To Sentience: Automobiles’ True Revolution Is Upon Us, Says Sailesh Chandra

The Future of Sustainability

Another transformative shift lies in the global transition from linear to circular economic models. The traditional ‘take, make, dispose’ paradigm is giving way to systems based on reuse, remanufacturing and recycling. As resource constraints tighten and environmental pressures mount, circularity will become a strategic imperative across the mobility value chain.

The India Opportunity

India stands uniquely positioned to lead the next era of sustainable and intelligent mobility. With low vehicle penetration—only 30 cars per 1,000 people, as compared to 980 in the US and 850 in Germany, according to the World Bank—a rapidly growing middle class, and strong macroeconomic fundamentals, the country offers one of the most dynamic and underpenetrated markets globally. Recognising both strategic and environmental imperatives, India has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070 and aims for EVs to account for 30 percent of private cars, 70 percent of commercial vehicles, and 80 percent of two- and three-wheelers by 2030 (according to Niti Aayog)—a bold and ambitious roadmap that signals clear national intent.To accelerate the zero-emission mobility transition, the government has introduced several progressive policies to promote EV adoption and support the development of an enabling EV ecosystem—PM e-Drive, PM e-Bus Seva, NEMMP, and PLI schemes—aimed at localising advanced technologies and components. To accelerate this transition, our country aims to scale public EV charging stations to 100,000 by 2030, as per the Ministry of Power. The Vehicle Scrappage Policy further supports this shift by retiring older, polluting vehicles in favour of cleaner alternatives.

Globally, the industry is also looking to diversify its supply chains further. India presents a compelling alternative with its blend of market scale, policy momentum and technological capabilities. India produces over 1.5 million engineering graduates annually, with a growing focus on artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and mobility systems (according to AICTE). With Indian engineers already driving innovation for top global automotive players and their suppliers, the country is well-positioned to become the global hub for software-defined vehicles, connected mobility solutions and autonomous technologies.

To fully unlock this opportunity, India must build a stable, future-forward regulatory environment, singularly focussed on promoting zero-emission technologies at every level. It must additionally invest in developing a nationwide EV charging infrastructure and nurture a new generation of professionals skilled in AI, machine learning, cybersecurity, and systems integration.

The convergence of demand, demographics and digital depth puts India at the cusp of a transformative leap. The potential is clear: With coordinated efforts across stakeholders, India can be more than a participant in the global mobility transformation—it can be the defining force.