NEW DELHI: The beleaguered auto industry met finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday and said too much focus on electric vehicles (EVs) — pushed aggressively by Niti Aayog — is distracting buyers from petrol and diesel vehicles at a time when companies are struggling to generate demand.
The industry, which was represented by Maruti chairman R C Bhargava, Hero Moto chairman Pawan Munjal, Mahindra automotive president Rajan Wadhera and functionaries from dealership and component associations, requested for a reduction in GST rates on vehicles, while asking for easier credit/liquidity availability.
Sitharaman, who was accompanied by top officials in the finance ministry and also those from the ministry of road transport and heavy industries, did not promise any immediate bailout. Although she gave a patient hearing to the industry honchos, sources told TOI.
