Japanese auto, motorcycle makers back India’s drive to cut fossil fuel use

Japanese automobile and motorcycle manufacturers are supporting India's initiative to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently called on citizens to cut petrol and diesel use by opting for public transportation, carpooling, and electric vehicles, citing the benefits for energy security and economic resilience.

As India, the world's third-largest crude oil importer, looks to diversify its energy sources, automakers are taking a technology-agnostic approach. Maruti Suzuki India, the country's largest carmaker, emphasizes that no single technology can meet all needs, given unique resources, infrastructure, and customer requirements across different regions.

The company plans to incorporate battery electric vehicles, strong hybrids, efficient combustion engine vehicles, and flex-fuel, natural gas, and biogas options. Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India's CEO, Tsutsumu Otani, also acknowledges the importance of a multi-pathway approach to mobility, which includes efficient internal combustion engine technologies, alternate fuels, and electric mobility.

The Indian government's plan to expand ethanol blending and promote flex-fuel vehicles has generated mixed reactions, with some motorists and consumer groups questioning fuel efficiency and vehicle compatibility. Both Honda and Yamaha Motor India maintain that their strategies will adapt to customer needs and local infrastructure.

Delhi recently introduced a new electric vehicle policy to boost EV adoption, offering purchase incentives, expanding charging infrastructure, and gradually phasing out new registrations for some fossil fuel-powered vehicles. The collaboration between India and Japan extends beyond manufacturing, with both nations focusing on clean energy, economic security, critical minerals, batteries, hydrogen, bioenergy, and supply chain resilience.