Why do some cars not make it to India? I am often asked this question, and sometimes there is no straight answer, but eventually, it all depends on the pricing strategy. For example, the Volvo EX30, a great packaged EV that can be a perfect everyday car for city driving, has power, range and comfort and is selling very well in Europe. Volvo is not sure if it will come to India because it might outprice itself, and since it has a lot of demand in Europe, its profitability will be hit. While some companies have either shut shops in India or not yet landed themselves here, like -Ford Mustang Mach e, Ram 150, Chevrolet Corvette, Fiat 500, Alfa Romeo Giulia, Cadillac Escalade, Ford Bronco, not available is still understandable.
However, auto manufacturers with a firm grip on the Indian market still don’t have their entire range. Hyundai Palisade is one such example, which is a full-size SUV that is popular in markets like North America and Australia; another example is the Jeep Renegade, which is a subcompact crossover SUV that is smaller than the Compass and is extremely popular in many international markets. Many factors decide, and our taxation structure makes many of them uncompetitive, and the homologation process is one of them. Each company can import only up to 2,500 units of a car or two-wheeler annually, complying with internationally accepted standards. By company, it means the entire Volkswagen group, which includes Audi, Lamborghini, Skoda, etc. The segment in which the car competes is also a key deciding factor. Finally, if a particular model is already selling well and can absorb the entire production, expanding capacities is cumbersome, so no cars are left to be exported to other markets.
While EVs continue their foray in India, Bajaj has disrupted the entire two-wheeler industry with its Freedom 125 CNG and dropped a viable commuter solution. Mr Nitin Gadkari present at the launch and supporting it only proves that alternative fuels are also being pushed. At the same time, the start of charging infrastructure remains a challenge in our country for mass adoption of EVs. Plenty of exciting EVs come from Mahindra, Tata, Hyundai, and luxury brands. Still, eventually, when Maruti Suzuki drops its gorgeouslooking EVX and starts educating the consumers through its vast dealership network, the actual EV tsunami on Indian roads will begin.
