India relaxes sourcing rules to speed up electric bus, truck production
₹10,900-crore PM E-Drive scheme, to ease component shortages and support early EV deployments.This is the second time that rules for local manufacturing have been relaxed for these vehicle segments. Earlier in September 2025, the ministry of heavy industries (MHI) had deferred the deadline till March 2026 to stop imports of this component under the scheme's sourcing rules.In a 13 March notification, the government has allowed the use of imported traction motor sub-assemblies in electric trucks and buses till 1 September 2026.PM E-Drive, or Prime Minister Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement, scheme aims to promote electric mobility in the country by subsidising electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.While rare earth magnet-free motors are being used in electric two-wheelers and some electric three-wheelers, larger electric vehicles need to import sub-assemblies where the magnets are already fused with the motor.Mint reported on 29 December that e-bus and e-truck makers were seeking a one-year relaxation in localisation rules under the scheme.Analysts said that the government's move to extend relaxation was a pragmatic step to increase sales of zero-emission commercial electric vehicles (EVs).
“Electric trucks in India are still at a nascent stage, and the sector needs policy support to achieve the initial scale required for market takeoff. In that context, temporary relaxations that allow the import of critical components such as rare-earth magnet traction motors under the PM E-Drive scheme are a pragmatic step.
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