Designed in India, for India – How indigenous EV engineering meets local market needs

Goods and transport, trade and related industries play a crucial role in India's growth story.

- Vikash Lohia, Deputy Managing Director, Jupiter Group

Metro hubs are attracting investment in every sector, be it manufacturing, real estate, retail, healthcare, or technology. Complementing this is the rapid growth of Tier-II and Tier-III cities, with logistics at the heart, connecting factories, warehouses, retailers, and consumers in an increasingly complex network. Despite the development of Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs), India's freight is largely carried by road, accounting for nearly 70 per cent, and making it the backbone of the trade industry.

It is truly remarkable to note how a mix of over 63 lakh km of national highways, state highways, district roads, and narrow rural stretches shoulder the responsibility of daily commute and trade. The blend of modern corridors and challenging last-mile connections is unique to the region and has greatly impacted India's economic momentum. Empowering the country's logistics, it has also become a distinct canvas for India's electric vehicle story.

And this is where engineering excellence, design, and manufacturing are truly tested. Indian roads are nonuniform, and they need vehicles capable of carrying heavy loads, withstanding unpredictable climate, and providing smooth passage, albeit tough circumstances. And the task is bound to grow with the number of trucks in India likely to quadruple by 2050. These conditions demand a level of engineering that is both sustainable and innovative. This complexity is precisely where indigenous EV engineering enters the fray and assumes the limelight in highlighting that “Designed in India, for India” is no slogan, but a good strategy to develop mobility solutions that are best suited to local conditions.

Local realities, local innovations