How electric vehicle (EV) segment will benefit from PLI scheme in India

Renault electric vehicle

India Government’s productivity linked incentive (PLI) scheme for auto and auto component industry will benefit the electric vehicle (EV) segment immensely, especially the two-wheelers, which can see rapid adoption over the coming years.

India government has cleared Rs 25,938 crore worth new production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for the auto sector. This is done primarily to boost the production of electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

As per the government estimates, the PLI scheme will generate 7.5 lakh jobs for the auto sector. Last year, the government had announced the scheme worth Rs 57,043 crore for a period of five years for the automobile and auto components sector.

Kenichi Ayukawa, SIAM President said, “The scheme will contribute towards reducing carbon emissions and oil imports with local manufacturing.”

Girish Wagh, Executive Director, Tata Motors said, “Several meaningful incentives have been offered across the entire value chain engaged in manufacturing of battery powered electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell, as well as their supporting infrastructure and exports.”

Anish Shah, MD & CEO, Mahindra & Mahindra said, “The Government’s PLI scheme for auto will drive faster acceptance of sustainable mobility solutions. India promises to be one of the largest EV markets in the world. This scheme is a giant step in the right direction.”

Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director, Auto & Farm Sectors, Mahindra and Mahindra said, “The auto PLI scheme is a transformational move that has potential to create a multiplier effect for both clean mobility and also for the economy. It gives Indian firms powerful impetus to be globally competitive in EVs and technology.”

Chetan Maini, Co-Founder and Chairman, SUN Mobility stated, “The outlay of Rs 26,058 crore over the next five years under the PLI scheme will reinvent R&D and manufacturing making it more innovative while at the same time increasing opportunities for greater employment.”

According to an analysis done by Kotak Institutional Equities, along with FAME-II policy (subsidy for consumers) and PLI scheme for advanced chemistry cell (subsidy for batteries manufactured in India), the PLI scheme for autos provide incentives in the range of 13-18 per cent of sales value to OEMs for manufacturing EVs in India.

This in turn, the brokerage said, provides a strong foundation for rapid adoption of EVs in India as incentives now cover both manufacturers and consumers.

For auto component manufacturers, the government will provide incentives in the range of 8-13 per cent with additional 5 per cent incentive for manufacturers of battery cell and hydrogen fuel cell components. According to brokerages, key beneficiaries in the auto component space will be mostly global MNCs such as Bosch, Continental, Delphi Automotive, Denso Corporation.

Kotak said that in its own understanding, Minda Industries, Endurance Technologies, Varroc Engineering and Schaeffler India can benefit from this scheme.

The government has approved the PLI scheme for the auto industry with an outlay of Rs 26,400 crore, which has been slashed from the initial outlay of Rs 57,000 crore. The current PLI scheme is targeted to enable India to leapfrog to EVs and incentivise emergence of an advanced automotive technologies supply chain in India.

The PLI scheme for the auto sector is open to existing automotive companies as well as new investors who are currently not in automobile or auto component manufacturing business. The scheme has two components, viz., Champion OEM Incentive Scheme — ‘sale value linked’ scheme, applicable on BEVs and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles of all segments, and Component Champion Incentive Scheme — ‘sales value linked’ scheme, applicable on advanced automotive technology components of two-wheelers, three-wheelers, passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles and tractors.

Under the scheme, 22 components will be eligible for incentives, which include flex fuel kit, hydrogen fuel cell, hybrid energy storage systems, electric vehicle parts, fuel injection systems, automatic transmission assembly and electronic power steering system, anti-braking system, advanced driver-assistance systems, among others.

The scheme will be effective from FY 2023 for five years and the base year for eligibility criteria would be FY 2020. A total of 10 OEMs, 50 auto component makers and five new non- automotive investors will benefit from the scheme.

To avail the scheme, OEMs should have a minimum of Rs 10,000 crore in revenue and Rs 3,000 crore investment in fixed assets, auto component makers should have minimum revenue of Rs 500 crore and Rs 150 crore investment in fixed assets. New non-automotive investors must have a global net worth of Rs 1,000 crore and a clear business plan for investment in advanced automotive technologies to be eligible under the PLI scheme.