Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways, GOI, stated that the government has set a bold goal for India’s automobile sector—aiming to become the world’s largest within the next five years. He recounted that when he took charge in 2014, the size of India’s automotive industry stood at ₹7.5 lakh crore. Through sustained efforts, it has now surged to ₹22 lakh crore.

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Climbing the Auto Ladder

At present, the United States leads with an automotive industry valued at around ₹78 lakh crore, followed by China at ₹47 lakh crore, and India at ₹22 lakh crore. Gadkari expressed confidence that the target to rise from third to first is well within reach in the coming years.

Logistics at the Wheel of Progress

Gadkari highlighted the strides made in trimming logistics costs—from a hefty 16 per cent of GDP to 10 per cent—based on joint research by IIM and IIT. The aim is to trim this further into the single digits. He attributed this improvement to substantial investment in motorways and economic corridors.

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Express Industry—A Booming Engine

A report titled “Powering India’s Economy, Connecting Business and Markets” underscores the express sector’s growing contributions: annually generating USD 1–1.5 billion in GST and USD 650 million in customs revenue. The sector, now valued at USD 9 billion in FY25, is projected to double to USD 18–22 billion by 2030, potentially creating 6.5–7.5 million jobs.