Prime Minister's Advisor Tarun Kapoor on Thursday called for a rapid push to promote electric trucks as a central pillar of India's transition to domestically available alternative energy sources, speaking at the 66th SIAM Annual Convention in New Delhi. Kapoor underlined that incremental steps would not suffice and that the country must target a wholesale transformation of its energy and mobility landscape within the next five years.

The Case for Electric Trucks

Kapoor noted that electric trucks are already being manufactured in India, signalling that domestic industrial capability is taking shape. However, he stressed that production must be scaled up significantly to make these vehicles affordable and market-competitive. 'We need to transition to alternative energy sources available in India as quickly as possible. For this, we must promote electric trucks,' he said.

He pointed to domestic battery manufacturing as a critical lever for cost reduction. 'If we add more value — such as manufacturing batteries locally in India — these trucks can potentially be available at a good, competitive price,' Kapoor said, framing local value addition as both an economic and strategic imperative.

A Five-Year Transformation Window

Kapoor set an ambitious benchmark for the industry, calling for a visible and sweeping shift within half a decade. 'If we want to set a timeline for ourselves, then we should see a very major transition in the next 5 years. We want the whole landscape to change, and those incremental changes will not really help us,' he said. The remarks signal that the government is preparing to push policy levers beyond voluntary adoption.

Semiconductors, Supply Chains, and Strategic Risks

Beyond electric mobility, Kapoor broadened his address to cover India's vulnerability in semiconductors and other critical automotive components. He cited recent disruptions in the supply of rare-earth magnets as a warning of the risks that come with heavy dependence on concentrated global supply chains. This comes amid a wider global scramble to secure critical mineral supply lines, with India actively seeking to diversify sourcing through bilateral agreements.

'Please expect some major things to come from our side, and the industry has to be prepared for that,' Kapoor said, hinting at forthcoming policy announcements without specifying their nature.

The Broader Sustainability Drive

Kapoor framed India's push as part of an irreversible global shift. 'The main change which is happening is that everyone is moving towards sustainability, towards energy efficiency, towards electric, towards fuels which are more environment-friendly — and we also have to do that,' he said. The SIAM Annual Convention, one of India's most prominent automotive industry gatherings, provided the backdrop for what amounted to a government call-to-action directed squarely at vehicle manufacturers and component suppliers.

With the Centre signalling major policy moves on the horizon, the automotive sector will be watching closely for concrete measures on EV incentives, battery manufacturing support, and semiconductor localisation in the months ahead.