Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday said India is targeting the No. 1 position in global automobile manufacturing within the next five years, riding on rapid growth in exports, clean mobility initiatives and infrastructure expansion.
Speaking at the International Value Summit 2025, Gadkari said India has already overtaken Japan to become the world’s third-largest automobile market. “All major global automobile brands are now present in India. Their focus has shifted from assembling to exporting vehicles from India to the world,” he said.
The minister noted that India’s two-wheeler industry alone exports more than half its production, underscoring the country’s growing global footprint.
On green mobility, Gadkari highlighted the government’s push towards electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel and alternative fuels. “We have already launched hydrogen trucks, and pilot projects are underway across ten routes. Our aim is to lead the world in green mobility,” he said, adding that companies such as Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, Reliance and Indian Oil are actively supporting the efforts.
The Centre has allocated ₹600 crore in grants to fast-track hydrogen infrastructure and is conducting trials on new fuels such as isobutanol and bio-bitumen.
Gadkari also pointed to significant improvements in road infrastructure, with India now having the second-largest road network in the world. “Panipat to Delhi Airport now takes just 35 minutes instead of three hours,” he said, citing reduced travel times. Projects like the Chennai–Bengaluru expressway and the ₹23,000 crore Bengaluru Ring Road are expected to further boost connectivity.
Sustainability is another focus area, with the ministry using 80 lakh tonnes of waste from the Ghazipur landfill in road construction. “We have reduced the height of the mountain by seven metres already,” Gadkari said, adding that bio-bitumen derived from rice straw is proving to be more effective than petroleum-based alternatives while reducing stubble burning.
Calling for global collaboration, Gadkari urged international delegates to partner with India in precast road construction, tunnel engineering, hydrogen transport systems and circular economy solutions. “We do not have a resource problem. Our roads are monetized, and our revenue is strong. What we need is your innovation, your technology, and your cooperation,” he said.