Industry leaders discussed the integration of smart mobility and advanced manufacturing during the Times Drive Auto Summit & Awards 2026 in India [1].
The conversation highlights the shift toward high-tech industrialization required to meet national economic goals. By aligning automotive innovation with government targets, India aims to transition from a traditional manufacturing hub to a leader in frontier technologies.
Uday Narang, founder and chairman of Omega Seiki Mobility, and Naveen Gupta, founder of TREV Mobility, led the panel discussion titled “Smart Mobility & Manufacturing: The Viksit Bharat Ecosystem” [1]. The participants examined how the automotive sector can serve as a catalyst for the broader Viksit Bharat vision, which sets a target year of 2047 for the nation's development goals [2].
The panel focused on the necessity of scaling infrastructure to support electric and smart vehicles. The discussion emphasized that achieving these goals requires a coordinated ecosystem where manufacturing capabilities evolve alongside digital mobility solutions.
Neeraj Huddar said that India needs to rapidly scale up advanced manufacturing and frontier technologies to meet its long‑term growth ambitions [2]. This sentiment underscores the urgency for private sector investment in research and development to ensure the supply chain can support the 2047 objective [2].
The event served as a forum for stakeholders to align their corporate strategies with the national roadmap. The dialogue focused on reducing dependencies on foreign technology by fostering local innovation in smart mobility [1].
“India needs to rapidly scale up advanced manufacturing and frontier technologies to meet its long‑term growth ambitions.”
The focus on 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047 indicates a strategic shift in India's industrial policy, moving beyond simple assembly toward a comprehensive 'ecosystem' approach. By linking smart mobility to advanced manufacturing, the government and private sector are attempting to create a self-sustaining loop of innovation that reduces reliance on imports while upgrading the national labor force's technical skills.
