Amitabh Kant, the former CEO of NITI Aayog, has urged the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to avoid promoting hybrid vehicles, calling them “outdated technology” similar to typewriters in the age of smartphones. In a letter sent to the PMO, Kant warned that a “technology-neutral” stance, which promotes a range of powertrain technologies including hybrids, could dilute India’s electric vehicle (EV) vision and erode investor confidence. He argued that continuing to promote hybrids is like investing in legacy systems, and that India’s environmental, economic, and strategic goals demand a technological leap towards zero-emission mobility.
Kant’s letter was sent in response to an advisory from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), which promoted a broad array of powertrain technologies, including hybrids, as equally viable “clean” options for government fleets. Kant expressed concern that this approach could create confusion among stakeholders, delay the technological leap India needs, and demonstrate a lack of predictability and consistency in mobility policy. He also noted that mixed signals could erode investor confidence and dilute the impact of progress made so far in promoting EVs.
The issue has sparked a debate among carmakers, with some, such as Maruti Suzuki, Toyota, and Honda, supporting incentives for hybrids, while others, like Tata Motors, Hyundai, and Mahindra & Mahindra, opposing the move, citing that hybrids are old technologies that do not achieve emission-free mobility. Electric cars have achieved a penetration of 4.1% in May, higher than the 2.4% penetration seen in the whole of 2024, according to the Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA).
Kant’s letter comes as the Indian government has set a bold vision of an eight times growth in EV sales by 2030. Indian OEMs, such as Tata Motors, M&M, Bajaj Auto, and TVS Motor, have already made significant investments in EV platforms, batteries, and infrastructure, anticipating a clear and progressive regulatory framework. However, Kant warned that continued policy ambiguity, particularly a “technology-neutral” stance, risks stalling these investments and deterring future capital inflow into the EV sector. He emphasized the need for strategic clarity and a focused approach towards promoting pure electric and hydrogen vehicles to achieve India’s zero-emission mobility goals.