Significant Push for “Make in India” as Policy Support for Electric Vehicle Manufacturing Application Portal Launches Under Plan to Encourage Indian Production of Electric Passenger Cars
The application portal for the Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars in India (SPMEPCI) has been launched, with great pleasure from the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI). The complete Scheme Guidelines were later released under Notification No. S.O. 2450(E) dated 02.06.2025, after the scheme was first announced on March 15, 2024. The Ministry’s official website, https://heavyindustries.gov.in/scheme-promote-manufacturing-electric-passenger-cars-india-0, has both the Notification and the Guidelines.
Accordingly, applications are being accepted from qualified candidates under the program. Applicants can apply using the spmepci.heavyindustries.gov.in application module. Applications will be accepted through the application site starting at 10.30 a.m. on June 24, 2025, and ending at 6:00 p.m. on October 21, 2025.
A forward-thinking plan to encourage domestic passenger car manufacturing, with an emphasis on electric vehicles (EVs), has been approved by the Indian government, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Its goal is to solidify India’s position as a top worldwide location for automotive innovation and production.
“Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, this initiative marks a defining moment in India’s journey towards clean, self-reliant, and future-ready mobility,” Union Minister Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy stated before the portal’s inauguration. With the opening of this portal under the SPMEPCI scheme, international electric vehicle manufacturers now have more opportunities to participate in India’s quickly changing automotive industry. This plan reaffirms our determination to create a sustainable, innovation-driven economy while simultaneously advancing our national goal of reaching Net Zero by 2070. It fortifies the principles of “Make in India” and “Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” and establishes India as a reliable worldwide center for cutting-edge automotive production and technological leadership.”
The plan will assist in luring investments from international EV producers and promoting India as a location for e-vehicle manufacturing. Along with creating jobs and advancing the “Make in India” movement, the scheme will help establish India as a major player in the global EV manufacturing market. The authorized applicants will be permitted to import Completely Built-in Units (CBUs) of e-4W with a minimum CIF value of USD 35,000 at a reduced customs tax of 15% for a period of five years from the Application Approval Date in order to entice international manufacturers to invest under the Scheme.
In accordance with the scheme’s requirements, approved candidates must deposit a minimum of Rs. 4,150 crores. The plan is designed to establish India as a major global center for the production of electric vehicles. It offers top domestic and international companies an enabling regulatory environment to create long-term manufacturing footprints in the nation, with a minimum investment criterion of ₹4,150 crore. The program balances the introduction of advanced EV technologies with the development of local capabilities through calibrated customs duty reductions and well-defined domestic value addition (DVA) milestones.
The program would strengthen the “Make in India” and “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” campaigns by requiring domestic value addition targets. It will also enable both domestic and international businesses to actively participate in India’s green mobility revolution.