New Delhi, Sep 10 (PTI) The government's aim is to make India's automobile industry number one in the world within five years, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Wednesday.

The future of Indian automobile industry is very good as the country has trained manpower, Gadkari said while addressing an event here, highlighting that all big automobile companies are present in the country.

"Within five years, our target is to make India's automobile industry the number 1 in the world... it is difficult, but not impossible," the road transport and highways minister said.

Gadkari pointed out that the quality of vehicles manufactured in India is good and cost is less, so all top automobile companies are present in the country.

"When I took charge as transport minister, the size of Indian automobile industry was Rs 14 lakh crore. The size of Indian automobile industry now is Rs 22 lakh crore," Gadkari said.

Presently, the size of the US automobile industry is Rs 78 lakh crore, followed by China (Rs 47 lakh crore) and India (Rs 22 lakh crore).

Gadkari noted that India is spending Rs 22 lakh crore for importing fossil fuels and because of import of fossil fuels, "we are facing problem of pollution".

The minister said Indian companies are manufacturing electric cars, buses and trucks as they are very cost-effective.

"The cost of lithium-ion battery is also reducing. In due course of time, the price of petrol, diesel vehicles and electric vehicle will be the same," Gadkari observed.

The minister pointed out that manufacturing capacity of electric buses in India was 50,000-60,000 per year, but the country's requirement is 1,00,000 buses per year.

"We need to increase production of electric buses... There is a huge market for exports also. This is the opportunity for electric vehicle companies," he said.

Gadkari said the transport ministry is working to encourage use of flex-fuel engine in agriculture equipment vehicles.

Responding to the growing concern on social media about E20, Gadkari said the petroleum sector is lobbying against this move.

"Everywhere there are lobbies, there are interests...petrol lobby is very rich," he said.

Currently, Indian vehicles can run on E20 petrol with minor changes to the engine to prevent corrosion and other issues. In 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched petrol blended with 20 per cent ethanol.

Ethanol, which can be produced from sugarcane, broken rice and other agricultural products, is expected to help reduce India's dependence on foreign oil. India is currently the world's third-largest oil consumer and imports about 88 per cent of its crude oil requirements, making it vulnerable to geopolitical vagaries that can impact crude prices. PTI BKS TRB

Automotive industrial policy aims to make India top global auto manufacturer soon; promotes electric vehicles and ethanol fuel adoption. Government sets a multi year policy objective to make India the leading global automobile manufacturer by expanding domestic manufacturing and exports, increasing electric vehicle and electric bus production as battery costs fall, and reducing fossil fuel import dependence. The policy promotes ethanol blending in petrol (E20) and encouragement of flex fuel engines for agricultural vehicles as demand side measures, while noting incumbent petroleum sector lobbying.