Ease of imports, company-agnostic norms to be focus of scheme for EV cars

Tariff framework is likely to encourage global players' participation

- PUJA DAS

The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) is in the final stages of coming up with guidelines for the Scheme to Promote the Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars in India (SMEC), a senior official said, adding that the final draft would not favour any specific company.

Government officials said a key focus area would be keeping import tariffs of electric vehicle (EV) equipment in a way that is lucrative for global players.

Announced last March, SMEC aims to attract investments from leading global EV manufacturers and establish India as a manufacturing hub for EVs.

The guidelines are expected to be finalised in about a month after an inter-ministerial consultation, which is scheduled to take place in about three weeks, the officials said.

Since the announcement of the scheme, four-five consultations have so far taken place between MHI and stakeholders like original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) to gauge investor interest.

Two people who participated in consultation meetings informed that one of the key discussions was on setting import tariffs in a way that would encourage major global OEMs, like Tesla, to enter the Indian market and help accelerate EV adoption in the country.