ETAutoTech Summit 2025: Innovation and urgency to scale indigenous capabilities take center stage

Time of India

18-06-2025

New Delhi: At day 1 of the
ETAutoTech Summit 2025
, a convergence of visionaries and leaders from across India's and the world's mobility ecosystem shared a common belief that India stands on the cusp of global automotive leadership. The discussions through the day spanned
electric mobility
,
digital transformation
,
AI integration
, sustainability, and the urgent need to scale
indigenous capabilities
.
In a stirring keynote, Dr. Andy Palmer, Global Auto Industry Veteran and Chairman, Inobat Auto, called on India to reject dependence on external supply chains, especially from China, and instead invest deeply in domestic ecosystems. 'Why would you let your industry be subservient to Chinese supply?' he asked.
Reflecting on his 46-year career, which has seen the industry transition from ICE to mass-market electrification, Dr Palmer outlined a three-point strategy for India's leadership in EVs– build domestic
battery systems
, recycling facilities, and skilled manpower; scale
EV charging infrastructure
, and pilot synthetic fuel stations; and enforce circularity, advancing end-to-end recycling.
Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairman, INSPACe, traced his journey from auto to space tech, emphasising how India's auto industry has reached a stage where it can lead globally. However, he pointed out that two foundational challenges persist, namely quality and R&D investment.
Create your place in the history of Indian auto. Don't just build for the market; build to lead, Dr Goenka said.
'Why would you let your industry be subservient to Chinese supply?'Dr Andy Palmer
India's EV ambition
India must not chase the cheapest EV, but the smartest one, said R Velusamy, President – Technology & Product Development, Mahindra & Mahindra. He emphasised leveraging large language models (LLMs) and AI for embedded intelligence in EV platforms.
Echoing this, Mahesh Babu, CEO, Switch Mobility, underscored India's strength in IT and the opportunity to lead in AI and ML integration. 'Everyone gets the battery and motor. What differentiates Switch is our focus on software and digitalisation.'
As the post-COVID landscape drives consumer behavior further into the digital realm, Dr. Tapan Sahoo, Executive Officer – Digital Enterprise, Maruti Suzuki India, noted the rising role of startups.
He said, 'Startups bring fresh ideas and tech, but they lack scale. That's where OEMs must step in.'
His colleague, Tarun Aggarwal, Head – Engineering, Maruti Suzuki, added that liquid fuels still hold untapped potential in India, warranting attention alongside EVs.
"Create your place in the history of Indian auto. Don't just build for the market; build to lead."Dr. Pawan Goenka
Data and AI
Dr. Calev Munigety, Head, Enterprise-AI, Bosch India, highlighted the untapped potential of
Generative AI
. 'We are just at the beginning. The possibilities with Gen AI are infinite.'
Ujjwala Karale, Senior Deputy Director, ARAI, emphasised that the conversion of data to actionable knowledge, and the collaboration between OEMs, is central to future innovation.
Adding a systems lens, Dr. Lokesh Agrawal, CTO, NBC Bearings, said the rise of EVs demands a shift to system engineering, especially as scheduled maintenance becomes obsolete. He stressed the need for lightweighting at the sub-system level for improved efficiency and performance.
India is also building a regulatory environment that is uniquely forward-looking. Dr. Reji Mathai, Director, ARAI, shared how India is the only country to implement both E20 ethanol blending and the BS-VI emission regime, emphasising the alignment of sustainability with safety and innovation.