The Prime Minister recently unveiled the Global Mobility Summit ‘MOVE’, a forward-thinking initiative aimed to promote investment into electric vehicles manufacturing, alongside encouraging the wider population to opt for public transport. This is part of India’s broader goal of building a robust and inexpensive electric mobility ecosystem, entailing both production facilities and an expansive network of charging points. This strategic move is set to accomplish three primary objectives: lessen carbon emissions, generate new job opportunities and curtail the over-reliance on crude oil, of which around 80% of requirement is satisfied through imports.
The Global Mobility Summit ‘MOVE’
The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) has coordinated with numerous ministries and industry partners to organize the first-ever ‘MOVE: Global Mobility Summit’ in New Delhi. This unprecedented gathering witnessed participants from across the globe, encompassing government representatives, industry leaders, research organizations, academia and civil society. The summit provided an ideal platform for stakeholders in the mobility and transportation sectors to collaboratively formulate a public interest framework that could radically change the face of transport. The deliberations at the summit revolved around five core themes of asset optimization and services, comprehensive electrification and alternative fuels, public transport reinvention, goods transport and logistics, and data analytics and mobility.
Objectives of the Summit
The overarching intent of the summit was to revolutionize the way people travel in India, decongest urban areas and make mobility more connected, shared and seamless. It emphasized on the affordability of public transit for low-income users and freight for industry. Enhanced mobility can alleviate the burden of travel and transportation and can invigorate economic growth. It’s already a significant employment generator and has the potential to create the next generation of jobs. The summit also aimed to reduce dependence on crude oil imports thereby lessening India’s massive import bill. It also shed light on the crucial aspects of accessibility and inclusivity for remote and differently-abled users across geographies, underpinning the philosophy of leaving no one behind. The summit highlighted the need for safe, energy-efficient and low-emission systems that align with India’s international commitments on climate change.
Key Highlights of the Summit
The Global Mobility Summit is expected to expedite the government’s goals for vehicle electrification, renewable energy integration, job growth and a quicker transition to a clean energy economy. The vision for the future of mobility in India was elucidated by the 7 C’s – Common mobility, Connected mobility, Convenient mobility, Congestion-free mobility, Charged mobility, Clean Mobility powered by Clean Energy and Cutting-edge.
Looking to the Future
Entrepreneurs are being encouraged to consider mobility as an industry ripe for innovation and growth. It is a sector where inventive thinking can make significant contributions to public good. The concept of a ‘Mobility Revolution’ is gaining traction as a driving force for growth and development. Transforming the face of mobility benefits not just India but has the potential to influence one fifth of mankind. Moreover, the successful implementation of this transformation can serve as a scalable success story for global replication.
