NEW DELHI: Amid reports by the US electric car major that Tesla has put on hold its plan to sell its products in India, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Saturday the government had never been in favor of that a company manufactures its cars in China and sells them here. He said Indian automakers have the capability to produce the world’s best electric cars.
Speaking at an event after witnessing a vehicle crash test in Pune, gadkari said: “We have all brands of cars here. It doesn’t matter if one or two of them aren’t here. We told a company that manufacturing and selling cars in China will not work here (China mein banakar yahan bechoge, aisa Nehin Jamega). If you want to come here, produce in India. I am confident that our vehicle manufacturers can build better vehicles than others. We have young, talented designers who are doing better.”
In a candid admission, the minister said he had listened to carmakers and dropped the proposal to make trucks with air-conditioned cabs compulsory for their drivers. “I agree that I listened to you and retracted the idea of the air-conditioned cabin in trucks. In other countries there are fixed driving times for drivers. But here they even drive up to 18 hours. You are driving in an inhumane condition,” he said.
Speaking at an event after witnessing a vehicle crash test in Pune, gadkari said: “We have all brands of cars here. It doesn’t matter if one or two of them aren’t here. We told a company that manufacturing and selling cars in China will not work here (China mein banakar yahan bechoge, aisa Nehin Jamega). If you want to come here, produce in India. I am confident that our vehicle manufacturers can build better vehicles than others. We have young, talented designers who are doing better.”
In a candid admission, the minister said he had listened to carmakers and dropped the proposal to make trucks with air-conditioned cabs compulsory for their drivers. “I agree that I listened to you and retracted the idea of the air-conditioned cabin in trucks. In other countries there are fixed driving times for drivers. But here they even drive up to 18 hours. You are driving in an inhumane condition,” he said.
