The Indian automotive industry requires up to 2 lakh skilled workers by 2030 to meet the government’s target of 30% electric vehicle (EV) adoption, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). An investment of Rs 13,552 crore is expected for hiring and training this workforce.
SIAM President Vinod Aggarwal, who is also MD & CEO of Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicle Ltd, addressed the need for specialised skills in battery technology, power electronics, and motor design at a workshop on empowering an EV-ready workforce.
Aggarwal highlighted the necessity of equipping the workforce with new skills to keep pace with global trends and make the Indian auto industry globally competitive. SIAM Vice President Shailesh Chandra, MD of Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd & Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd, added that India needs nearly one to two lakh skilled individuals to achieve the 30% EV adoption goal by 2030.
The talent demand spans blue-collar and white-collar professionals, from technicians in manufacturing and testing to PhD scientists and engineers in R&D. The required disciplines include electrical, mechanical, chemical, and electronics engineering.
The ‘SIAM EV Skill Gap Study’ report indicates that achieving 100% localisation of EV components necessitates adding 30,000 EV-ready workers annually until 2030, up from the current rate of 15,000 per year. The report notes that 43% of technical competencies between Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and EVs have minimal overlap, requiring new skill development, while 27% have high overlap, necessitating re-skilling.
The estimated hiring cost is Rs 7,671 crore, with training costs around Rs 5,881 crore, bringing the total talent investment to approximately Rs 13,552 crore.
