‘My dream is to make India’s automotive industry the world’s No. 1’: Nitin Gadkari at HT Auto Awards

Union minister Nitin Gadkari said on Wednesday India’s automotive industry has the potential to become the largest in the world, calling it a growth engine.

“This industry is the backbone of the economy. My dream is to make this industry number one in the world....[At present] Number one is the US, and second is China. India is the third,” Gadkari said.

He said India's automotive sector contributes over ₹22.75 lakh crore to the economy, underscoring its importance to the country's economic growth and industrial ecosystem.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Wednesday that India's automotive industry has the potential to become the largest in the world, describing it as a key engine of economic growth.

“This industry is the backbone of the economy. My dream is to make this industry number one in the world....[At present] Number one is the US, and second is China. India is the third,” Gadkari said.

He noted that India's automotive sector contributes ₹22.75 lakh crore to the economy, underscoring its central role in the country's economic growth and industrial ecosystem.

Gadkari made the remarks at the inaugural HT Auto Leaderboard Awards 2026 that sought to recognise the vehicles, people and innovations shaping India's automotive industry.

The awards also featured two panel discussions on ‘Make for the World: Is India ready to become the world's auto powerhouse?’ and ‘Road to 2030: Ethanol, EVs & beyond - India's new mobility energy mix’.

Gadkari on successful ethanol economy

The Union minister highlighted India's progress in developing an ethanol-based economy, saying, “ethanol economy has been successful.”

The push for biofuels has become more critical amid the West Asia crisis, which has disrupted supplies and pushed crude oil prices higher.

After a phased rollout, E20 (a blend of 20% ethanol and 80% petrol) became the only petrol variant available at fuel pumps in the country from April 2026.

Ethanol is produced from agricultural commodities such as sugarcane, maize and surplus rice. Blending of domestically produced ethanol procured at stable, pre-agreed prices insulated from global crude price hikes has ensured that consumers pay less per litre of petrol, according to the government.

Also Read | Barrier-free toll plaza system expected to be operational by March 2027: Nitin Gadkari

India’s road to becoming an auto powerhouse

The discussions at the HT Auto Leaderboard Awards also focused on India's ambitions to strengthen its position as a global automotive manufacturing and export hub.

The ‘Make for the World’ panel discussion focused on manufacturing, exports, technology and innovation.

The ‘Road to 2030’ panel focused on the changing mobility energy mix and the role of ethanol, electric vehicles and other emerging technologies in India's transportation sector.