First 3 months of 2025 will see many car launches, particularly from carmakers who lost their way in the Indian market & are now taking their last, vital shot at relevance.
There will be a crazy electric vehicle like the BMW i5 M60 every once in a while but most will be boring toaster-shaped and silent ‘mobility solutions’.
Under this model, battery is provided to EV owners on a subscription basis or lease. With more people open to buying EV cars, the lower upfront cost could likely drive wider acceptance.
PM also highlighted that semiconductor manufacturing sector has attracted investments worth over ₹1.5 lakh crore, and renewable energy capacity increased by 400% in just a decade.
Extended-range electric vehicles feature an on-board generator—a small internal combustion engine that charges the battery. This setup can effectively provide an EREV with double or triple the range of a pure EV with a similarly sized battery.
The European Union has imposed additional tariffs of 17-38% on imported Chinese EVs, which will lead to import duty of up to almost 50%. This could have significant impacts on India.
Making a jump from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles is the kind of romantic prospect that would appeal to India, which jumped from a shortage of landline phones to an abundance of smartphones.
While industry watchers say the policy is a step in the right direction, some Indian vehicle manufacturers had previously opposed reduction in customs duty for luxury EVs.
Despite multiple agencies being involved, the US could maintain a clear chain of command. This is something India should consider too, as it defines the theatre command structures.
The latest comment comes as New Delhi and Washington have yet to sign a trade agreement. India’s purchase of Russian oil has reduced, but Moscow remains top source for crude.
Export arrangements entered with nations ranging from Azerbaijan to Zimbabwe, highlighting both geographic reach & growing contours of Pakistan’s defence export composition.
Many of you might think I got something so wrong in National Interest pieces written this year. I might disagree! But some deserve a Mea Culpa. I’d deal with the most recent this week.
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