Global Auto Industry Leaders Discuss Trade Policies at SIAM Conference in New Delhi

Key Highlights:

• Industry leaders and officials gathered at the 11th Auto Trade Dialogue in New Delhi.
• Brazil’s Ambassador highlighted recent tax reforms that have improved the country’s value chain.
• The UK reported a 50% increase in electric vehicle sales in 2024, showing strong growth in the sector.
• India’s government is focusing on automating industry schemes to streamline operations.
• Japan stressed the need for global collaboration to strengthen supply chains and reduce emissions.

Industry leaders and government officials from around the world gathered today at the 11th Auto Trade Dialogue organized by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) in New Delhi. The event, held alongside the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025, focused on the evolving global trade practices within the automotive sector.

Discussions on Trade Agreements and Supply Chain Resilience

The conference included discussions on key topics like trade agreements, localization policies, and improving supply chain resilience. Representatives from countries such as Brazil, South Africa, Germany, and the UK shared their insights on market developments and policy changes impacting the automotive industry.

Highlights from Global Representatives

Brazil's Tax Reforms: Kenneth F. H. da Nóbrega, Brazil’s Ambassador to India, highlighted recent tax reforms in Brazil that have helped improve the value chain.

Electric Vehicle Growth in the UK: Mike Hawes from the UK's Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reported a 50% increase in electric vehicle sales in 2024.

Electric Mobility in Nepal: Karan Chaudhary, President of Nepal's NADA Automobile Association, shared that electric vehicles now make up 70% of Nepal’s vehicle market.

India's Focus on Industry Automation

Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Additional Secretary at India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade, spoke about the Indian government’s efforts to automate and streamline the implementation of industry schemes.

Global Cooperation for Supply Chain Strengthening

Shinichiro Oka, a representative from Japan, emphasized the importance of tariff reductions to strengthen supply chains and called for global collaboration to reduce CO2 emissions.

Energy Transition and Quantitative Assessment

Rahul Bharti, Chairman of SIAM’s International Relations group, stressed the importance of a quantitative approach to addressing challenges in energy transition.

About SIAM and the Event

SIAM, which was established in 1960, represents India’s automotive manufacturers. The Auto Trade Dialogue is an annual event organized by SIAM to discuss industry challenges and opportunities. This year’s event comes at a time when global automakers are navigating shifts towards electric mobility, changing trade policies, and supply chain adjustments in response to geopolitical changes.

Also Read: ZF Launches SCALAR: A Digital Fleet Management Platform in India

CMV360 Says

The 11th Auto Trade Dialogue highlighted the need for global cooperation in the automotive industry as countries move towards electric mobility and face new trade challenges. India’s push for automating industry schemes could improve local manufacturing, while the focus on reducing tariffs and assessing energy transitions is crucial for future growth. Overall, the event showed that working together globally is key to navigating the changes ahead in the automotive sector.