Overview
- Tarun Mehta publicly challenged the auto PLI after a senior official said the scheme is not meant for startups and is aimed at global champions.
- He said the policy leaves emerging electric-vehicle makers with a 13–16% cost disadvantage.
- The scheme requires at least ₹10,000 crore in global auto revenue and ₹3,000 crore in fixed assets, thresholds that most electric-first manufacturers do not meet.
- The government calls the programme a success, citing more than ₹35,000 crore in investment, about 1.4 million EVs produced and tens of thousands of jobs, with incentives flowing mainly to large firms such as Tata Motors, Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki, Bajaj Auto and Ola Electric.
- A parliamentary panel and the C-Dep think tank urge flexible or innovation-based criteria to let high-potential domestic EV players qualify without easing localisation standards.