The Indian government has initiated efforts to breathe new life into its electric vehicle import scheme, which was introduced to promote the import and local production of high-end electric vehicles in India. The scheme, known as the Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars in India (SPMEPCI), was launched with the goal of enticing major electric vehicle manufacturers like Tesla by offering reduced import tariffs. However, the government's expectations have not been met as anticipated, leading to a reconsideration of the strategy through stakeholder engagement and workshops.
In an attempt to gather insights and address the subdued interest in the scheme, the government aims to conduct a workshop for interested companies to provide them with a better understanding of the scheme's intricacies. The workshop, set to take place later this month, will serve as a platform for companies to offer feedback that could potentially influence the final regulations governing the import of electric vehicles. Following an initial consultation held in April 2024, which saw the participation of major automotive companies and Tesla's representative in India, it became apparent that only a limited number of companies have displayed a strong inclination towards participating in the scheme.