Special Correspondent, New Delhi

New Delhi, February 16, 2026: The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) on Monday inaugurated SIAM Sustainable Mobility Week in New Delhi, a first-of-its-kind initiative by the auto industry body that brings together policymakers, industry leaders, researchers and global stakeholders on a single platform to deliberate on sustainability issues spanning decarbonisation, road safety, circularity and material compliance.

The four-day programme, being held at India Habitat Centre until February 19, opened with the 4th edition of the International Symposium for Thriving Eco-Energy in Mobility (ISTEM), themed “Partnering for a Sustainable Future: Accelerating India’s Multi-Fuel Mobility Transition.”

Marking a key highlight of the programme, SIAM also unveiled the Sustainable Mobility Zone, a curated exhibition space presenting a cross-section of next-generation mobility innovations. The showcase spans road safety technologies, electric and hybrid systems, hydrogen solutions, CNG/LNG platforms, ethanol and biofuel-compatible vehicles, as well as recycling technologies, sustainable components and enabling infrastructure. The exhibition was inaugurated by Guest of Honour Mr Ashwini Srivastava, Joint Secretary (Sugar), Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India; Guest of Honour Mr Abhay Bakre, Mission Director, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Government of India; and Chief Guest H.E. Mr Kenneth Félix Haczynski da Nóbrega, Ambassador of the Federative Republic of Brazil, in the presence of senior industry leaders and dignitaries.

Vehicle exhibitions and technology showcases have been set up in an accessible public format for the first time at the venue, enabling not only conference participants and institutional occupants but also the general public to engage with next-generation mobility solutions. The zone features 11 vehicles, offering a practical demonstration of how alternative fuel technologies are moving from concept to deployment, and reflecting the industry’s broader push toward diversified, low-emission mobility pathways 

The opening day featured ISTEM 2026, which convened experts from government, industry and international organisations to discuss scalable pathways for clean and diversified mobility. The week-long programme will continue with the 2nd Summit for Automotive Future Advancement in Road Safety (SAFAR) scheduled for February 17th, further expanding discussions to safety innovation and policy priorities within the mobility ecosystem.

Welcoming the dignitaries and participants, Mr. Prashant K. Banerjee, Executive Director, SIAM, said, “India achieved 20% ethanol blending in the shortest period of time, and this was possible only with the support of multiple stakeholders. Our ethanol blending journey is rooted in learnings from Brazil. As we transition from conventional fuels, mobility remains a sunrise sector in India. The nation has adopted a multi-fuel mobility strategy, and biofuels, hydrogen, and gas-based mobility have a key role to play in our decarbonization efforts.” 

Guest of Honour Mr Ashwini Srivastava, Joint Secretary (Sugar), Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India, said, “Sustainable mobility requires a strong push towards cleaner automotive fuels, and India’s ethanol blending programme has made significant progress. Our focus is on reducing emissions, improving air quality, lowering import dependence and creating economic value within the country. Ethanol blending has reduced crude oil imports, cut emissions and created a reliable market for agricultural produce while making the sugar sector more self-sufficient. Fuel diversification remains essential to sustain the biofuel ecosystem, and we are moving towards 2G ethanol production with financing as a key enabler for expansion.” 

Guest of Honour Mr. Abhay Bakre, Mission Director, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Government of India, said, “Cost, technology readiness and infrastructure remain central to the clean mobility transition. From low EV penetration and limited charging networks in 2017–18, adoption has steadily improved. We are advancing methanol engines and green energy corridors while hydrogen pilots expand across vehicles and refuelling systems. As costs decline and deployment quality improves, hydrogen will play an increasingly important role in the mobility ecosystem.” 

Chief Guest H.E. Mr. Kenneth Félix Haczynski da Nóbrega, Ambassador of the Federative Republic of Brazil, said, “The energy transition must be ambitious yet pragmatic, advancing biofuels, electrification and green hydrogen together. Brazil’s experience, from record ethanol output and diversified feedstocks to higher blending targets, shows how supply resilience strengthens when multiple pathways are pursued. With the right financing, incentives and global commitments, including COP30 Belém, we can scale clean fuels worldwide. India’s achievement of 20 per cent ethanol blending and our growing collaboration on standards, sustainable fuels and multi-fuel mobility can help shape the future of sustainable mobility globally.” 

Dr. Vibha Dhawan, Director General, TERI, said, “Times have changed, and sustainability challenges are far more visible today. We have learned from Brazil’s use of biofuels and must rethink what and how we produce. The entire automobile industry deserves appreciation. While vehicles earlier offered comparatively modest mileage, the adoption of alternative fuels and continued technological advancements has led to significant improvements in fuel efficiency. Renewable energy will play a crucial role in multi-fuel mobility, with equal importance to shipping and freight, as we move towards E30 and E40 and strengthen highway infrastructure.” 

Mr. Kamal Kishore Chatiwal, Managing Director, Indraprastha Gas, said, “We have personally witnessed the shift from CNG-run DTC buses to EVs, showing how mobility continues to evolve in India. Agricultural waste is available in large quantities but has largely remained unused, despite its potential to release methane. Through innovation, it can be converted into Bio CNG, helping manage waste and emissions. With the rapid rise of two-wheelers, we must widen practical fuel options. We have already started one LNG station and will commission three more in the coming months, and LNG provides the range of three CNG fills in a single fill.” 

Mr. R. S. Sachdeva, Deputy CEO & CTO, VE Commercial Vehicles, said, “India’s multi-fuel mobility approach is advancing steadily with 26,000 EV charging stations and penetration expected to cross 10 percent in five years. The industry seeks deeper collaboration with the government on green hydrogen, alongside progress in storage, supply and battery management systems. Four focus areas remain critical minerals, scaling hydrogen for mobility, accelerating advanced biofuels and building EV corridors, requiring policy support and collaboration across industries.” 

Ashish Chutani, Head Government and Policy Affairs at Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., said, “India’s green mobility transition is defining how change should be implemented, and the world is looking forward to India’s multi-pathway approach as a model.” 

The first thematic session, themed “Mobility Transition – Overcoming Barriers in Innovation, Infrastructure and Finance for Alternate Fuels in India’s Mobility Ecosystem,” was chaired by Mr. Nitin Pawar, Division Head, External Affairs, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, andfeatured presentations by Mr. Nandan Agrawaal, Managing Director, Nandan Group, and Mr. Srinivasa Raghavan, CTO, Cummins Technologies India Pvt. Ltd. The session also included a panel discussion moderated by Ms. Payal Goel, Director, Deloitte, with panellists Mr. Ashwini Srivastava; Dr. Santanu Gupta, Director (Technical), Global Biofuels Alliance; Mr. Srinivasa Raghavan; Mr. Vedang Pittie, Executive, Harinagar Sugar Mills who shared perspectives on policy frameworks, technology adoption, infrastructure readiness, and financing mechanisms required to scale alternate fuels in India’s mobility ecosystem. 

The second thematic session, themed “Innovations for Accelerating Clean Mobility in India,” was chaired by Mr. Ashish Chutani, Head – Government & Policy Affairs, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., and featured presentations by Mr. Yashodhan Mankame, Executive Vice-President, Praj Industries Ltd., and Mr. D. M. R. Panda, Executive Director (Hydrogen) & CEO (APNHAL), NTPC. The session included a panel discussion moderated by Mr. Aniket Dasgupta, Director, PwC India, with panellists Mr. Ashish Chutani; Dr. Madhusudan Joshi, ICAT; Mr. D. M. R. Panda; Mr. Yashodhan Mankame; Mr. Subhash Kumar, Director General, ACE; and Mr. Akshay Kashyap, Founder & Managing Director, Greenfuel Energy Solutions, who discussed innovation pathways, emerging technologies, and collaborative approaches for clean mobility adoption. 

The third thematic session, themed “Strategy for Scaling Alternate Fuels in India,” was chaired by Mr. Vikram Gulati, Country Head & Executive Vice President, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, and featured presentations by Mr. Santosh Gurunath, CEO, Umagine Hydrogen Pvt. Ltd., and Mr. Swadhin Banerjee, Senior Director, Lanzatech India, which also included a panel discussion moderated by Mr. Nishant Shekhar, Principal, NRI Consulting and Solutions, with panellists Mr. Vikram Gulati; Mr. Sameer Sinha, CEO (Sugar Business), Triveni Engineering & Industries Ltd.; Sqn Ldr Ankur Naik, Director – Corporate Affairs, Punjab Renewable Energy Systems Pvt. Ltd. (PRESPL); Mr. Swadhin Banerjee; and Mr. Santosh Gurunath, who deliberated on infrastructure expansion, market mechanisms, policy support, and industry collaboration required to accelerate alternate fuel adoption. 

SIAM Sustainable Mobility Week will continue over the next three days, which will feature a series of international conferences, including the 2nd Summit for Automotive Future Advancement in Road Safety (SAFAR) on 17 February, the 4th International Conference on Sustainable Circularity (ICSC) on 18 February, and the 1st International Conference on Automotive Material Compliance & Sustainability (AMCS) on 19 February, creating a platform for focused discussions on technology, policy, safety, circularity, and sustainability across the mobility ecosystem. 

About SIAM 

The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) is an apex national body representing all major vehicle and vehicular engine manufacturers in India. It is a society with charitable objectives registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. Its objectives include enhancing the contribution of automobile industry to the growth and development of Indian economy, assisting the automobile industry to meet its social obligations and encouraging the efficiency of industry in general and automobile industry particularly in India. SIAM focuses on activities related to improvement of environment and ensuring safety and protection of automobile vehicle users and public at large. Recognising these objectives, SIAM has been granted registration under the Income Tax Act, 1961 as an institution with charitable purpose.