New Delhi: Maharashtra aims to ensure that electric vehicles account for 30% of all new vehicle registrations by 2030, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Wednesday, outlining the state's plans to become a global hub for future mobility.
Speaking at the launch of Mercedes-Benz's all-new GLC Electric at its Chakan manufacturing facility in Pune district, Fadnavis said Maharashtra was moving beyond conventional automobile manufacturing towards advanced mobility technologies, research and innovation.
“Under the state’s electric vehicle policy, we have set a target of ensuring that 30 percent of new vehicle registrations are electric by 2030,” he said.
To support this transition, the state government is expanding fast-charging infrastructure along major highways and developing sustainable mobility corridors on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Mahamarg. It is also promoting battery recycling facilities to support the growing EV ecosystem.
Focus on next-generation mobility
Fadnavis said Maharashtra's ambitions extended beyond electric vehicle manufacturing to areas such as battery technology, power electronics, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, automotive software, design and research and development.
He described future vehicles as integrated mobility platforms combining computing, energy systems and artificial intelligence, adding that Maharashtra was preparing to take a larger role in this transformation.
Highlighting the state's industrial base, he said Maharashtra accounts for more than 20% of India's automobile production, with Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad serving as major automotive manufacturing centres.
The state is now looking to move from Make in Maharashtra towards Innovate in Maharashtra, with greater emphasis on engineering, technology development and high-value research alongside manufacturing, he added.
Fadnavis invites Mercedes-Benz to expand investments
The Chief Minister urged Mercedes-Benz to use its Chakan facility as a manufacturing base not only for India but also for Asian and other global markets. He also invited the company to consider future investments in battery technology, software engineering and mobility research in Maharashtra.
He said infrastructure projects such as Navi Mumbai International Airport, the proposed Purandar airport in Pune district and Vadhavan Port in Palghar would improve the state's connectivity with international markets.
Fadnavis also said around 650 prospective customers had expressed interest in the newly unveiled GLC Electric within 36 hours of its launch.
According to the Chief Minister, Mercedes-Benz has invested approximately Rs 3,200 crore in its Maharashtra operations. The Chakan facility directly employs around 1,200 people, while its supplier and service network supports another 18,000 jobs.
Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, who attended the event, acknowledged the company's contribution to Maharashtra's industrial development over the past three decades. She described the start of local electric vehicle production as an important milestone for Pune's automotive industry and assured investors of the state government's support in addressing industrial challenges.
Senior Mercedes-Benz executives, including Group Supervisory Board Chairman Martin Brudermüller, Chairman of the Board of Management Ola Källenius, Chief Technology Officer Joerg Burzer and Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director and CEO Santosh Iyer, were also present.
