Audi Executive Says Lowering Electric Vehicle Import Tax Will Facilitate Testing in India

The India branch of Volkswagen-owned Audi said on Friday that any prospective reduction in electric vehicle (EV) import levies will allow the German automaker to experiment more with models and pricing in the world's third-largest automotive market. "If we get a window of three to five years where the government is able to reduce duties, it will let us experiment with what models make sense for India and help in terms of pricing points," Audi India chief Balbir Singh Dhillon told Reuters on the sidelines of a showroom launch in Bengaluru.

According to Reuters, the Indian government is working on a new EV strategy that will reduce import duties for manufacturers that commit to some local production.

Dhillon stated that the India arm is in discussions with its German parent to begin building "some" of its electric vehicles locally, but declined to offer timelines or specific models.

Audi is attempting to catch up to its competitors, BMW and Mercedes, in the move to electric vehicles. Currently, the company's India business exclusively manufactures internal combustion engines, which are utilized in its gasoline vehicles.

Piyush Goyal, India's commerce minister, stated earlier this week that the government will confer with the sector before releasing a new policy to encourage more EV investment.

The initiatives come as India strives for greener transportation, with the government aiming to expand electric car sales to 30% by 2030, up from the current fledgling levels of 2%. Luxury EVs account for a small portion of this.

Following the debut of four models last month, six of Audi India's 16 models are electric, with prices ranging from $136,000 (approximately Rs. 1.12 crore) to $234,000 (about Rs. 1.94 crore).  

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