{
  "id": 17907893,
  "title": "Mandya's auto hub hits a political roadblock",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/mandyas-auto-hub-hits-a-political-roadblock",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-03T04:16:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/auto/auto-news/karnataka-risks-losing-auto-ev-testing-centres-as-mandya-politics-stalls-project/articleshow/135481686.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Bengaluru: The Karnataka government may face a setback as cutting-edge testing centres for automobiles and electric vehicles could be lost, amid regional politics and heated political rivalries. Union heavy industries minister HD Kumaraswamy has been advocating for the construction of CIE and EV testing centres in Mandya district by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI). These facilities could potentially create an automobile and EV ecosystem in a region primarily known for sugarcane cultivation and dairy farming. If the central government's investments are combined with sufficient land, an auto hub could be established akin to Pune. The ARAI, an automotive research and development organization, plays a vital role in setting industry standards and fostering innovation in mobility solutions. However, political complications in Mandya, the district Kumaraswamy represents in the Lok Sabha, are hindering the proposed investments.\n\nSections of Congress leaders are concerned that if the testing lab project materializes, Kumaraswamy will gain significant popularity among locals, potentially expanding his regional party's influence. The ruling Congress lacks a comparable development strategy for the district. Kumaraswamy, a 66-year-old JDS leader and president of the party, is also a prominent Vokkaliga leader, whose community is the second largest and politically influential in the Old Mysuru region. This overlap with chief minister DK Shivakumar and Mandya district minister N Cheluvarayaswamy, both from the same community, has created political animosity, with each group attempting to undermine the other.\n\nIndustries minister MB Patil recently visited the US, Europe, and Southeast Asian countries to attract investors, but his efforts to push the investment forward have been impeded by local political complications. Kumaraswamy is unwilling to locate the centers outside of his constituency, further complicating the situation.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Karnataka government faces setback over Mandya auto hub project.",
    "Union heavy industries minister HD Kumaraswamy advocates for testing centers.",
    "Political rivalries and local concerns hinder central government investments."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}