New Delhi, Feb 1 (PTI) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday proposed to extend duty exemptions on capital goods used in the production of lithium-ion batteries.

The move is aimed at aiding domestic manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries, a key component in electric vehicles and mobile phones.

"To the list of exempted capital goods, I propose to add 35 additional capital goods for EV battery manufacturing, and 28 additional capital goods for mobile phone battery manufacturing," she said.

This will boost domestic manufacture of lithium-ion batteries, both for mobile phones and electric vehicles, the finance minister said while presenting her record 8th straight Budget.

Grant Thornton Bharat Partner and Auto & EV Industry Leader Saket Mehra said that a reduction in customs duty on lithium will significantly lower input costs for manufacturing lithium-ion batteries in India, providing a much-needed boost to the country’s emerging electric vehicle sector.

Uno Minda Chairman and Managing Director Nirmal K Minda said the government's emphasis on manufacturing EV batteries and components will significantly enhance domestic manufacturing capacities and reduce import dependence.

Efforts to localise key EV components like batteries, motors, and controllers will also help lower upfront costs, making EVs more accessible to consumers and strengthening India's EV ecosystem, he added.

Revamp Moto co-founder and CEO Pritesh Mahajan said the proposal to fully exempt Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on cobalt powder, lithium-ion battery waste, scrap, and 12 other critical minerals is a crucial step in ensuring the availability of key raw materials for domestic manufacturing.

This will not only lower production costs but also incentivise companies to scale up operations, drive technological advancements, and create high-value job opportunities, he added. PTI MSS MSS BAL BAL

Duty exemptions on capital goods expand to support lithium-ion battery manufacturing, lowering input costs and boosting domestic supply. Proposal to extend duty exemptions on capital goods for lithium-ion battery production by adding specified additional exempted items for EV and mobile phone battery manufacturing, and to fully exempt Basic Customs Duty on cobalt powder, lithium-ion battery waste and scrap, and other critical minerals to reduce input costs, secure raw material availability, and promote domestic manufacturing and supply-chain localisation.