NEW DELHI: India’s ambitious transition toward electric mobility hinges heavily on its ability to build resilient, localized, and secure supply chains for electric vehicles (EVs).
While the domestic manufacturing of electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers has seen exponential growth over the past few years, the country remains highly vulnerable to global supply shocks.
Industry experts and policymakers emphasize that true self-reliance in the green transport sector cannot be achieved without addressing critical bottlenecks in raw material processing and component manufacturing.
The foremost challenge facing the Indian EV ecosystem is its deep dependence on imported critical minerals, particularly lithium, cobalt, nickel, and graphite, which are essential for manufacturing lithium-ion battery cells.
Currently, a vast majority of these refined materials and battery cells are imported from countries like China, which dominates the global processing infrastructure.
This high concentration of supply poses a strategic risk for India, as any geopolitical tensions, trade restrictions, or overseas supply chain disruptions could instantly stall the production schedules of domestic EV manufacturers.