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BIG INTERVIEW

STEERING THE SHIP

In the following insightful conversation with MMI’s Editor-in-Chief Soumi Mitra,
Dr Reji Mathai, Director, ARAI, talks on the institute’s focus, the expected rise in the
demand of EVs, India as a hot bed of opportunities for global OEMs, and a lot more…

Please help our readers Source: ARAI

understand ARAI’s role in the Dr Reji Mathai, Director, The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI)

SOUMI MITRA current rapidly transforming scheme and state EV policies, the Gadkari and the electric push
Editor-in-Chief adoption of electric vehicles (EVs)
Modern Manufacturing automotive scenario. by Indian consumers is expected given by his ministry, there is
India Dr Reji Mathai: The Automotive to rise. The current fuel prices are
soumi.mitra@ Research Association of India also driving consumers to con- a general buzz around electric
magicwandmedia.in (ARAI) is a premier research, sider EVs as an option. The Auto
testing and certification insti- industry and various startups are cars in India. Hence, 2021 is
tute of the Automotive industry, working on the development of
affiliated to Ministry of Heavy new EV models and we are ob- slated to be the year of electric
Industries, Government of serving new players coming in
India. ARAI works on future the market, especially in the elec- cars in India.
technology development, reg- tric two-wheeler segment. As In- Global OEMs see India as an
ulation roadmap and provides dia is predominantly two-wheel- opportunity to expand their
policy inputs to the Govern- er transportation market, rise in businesses and, with favorable
ment of India with the objective the sales of electric two-wheelers policies, we can see excellent
of protection of environment, is naturally expected. growth in this sector. Long-term
sustainable transportation and roadmap of government policies
road safety. With more than five With the announcement of Tesla’s for EVs will be an enabler for
decades of service to the Indian entry by the Union Minister Nitin manufacturers to set up base in
Auto industry and the nation, India. The well-planned road-
ARAI strives hard for develop- map will also provide tier I and
ment and growth of environ- II suppliers to scale up the capac-
ment-friendly and safer vehi- ities. The need is to collaborate
cles on the road. The institute to achieve economies of scale.
tracks international technolog-
ical developments and works
on developing India specif-
ic solutions, including India-
specific regulations.

Nomura Research Institute

Consulting & Solutions India has

predicted a stronger growth of

the Indian Auto industry in 2021-

22, with electric vehicle sales,

especially two-wheelers, also

likely to see positive movement.

What is your view on the same?
As we adapt to the new normal of
Covid-19 pandemic, Indian Auto
industry is expected to grow in
an accelerated way as predicted
by global experts. With the an-
nouncement of PLI scheme by the
Indian Government, the FAME II

30 | March-April 2021 Modern Manufacturing India