Pune, India – Hyatt Regency, Viman Nagar – The 3rd Edition of the Passenger Vehicle Forum (PVF) successfully concluded in Pune, bringing together 300+ senior industry leaders, policymakers, OEMs, technology innovators, and supply chain experts for a full day of insightful discussions, networking, and knowledge sharing. With a sharp focus on electrification, fuel mix transformation, software-defined vehicles, supply chain resilience, safety, and evolving consumer insights, PVF 2025 reinforced its position as India’s premier platform dedicated to shaping the future of the passenger vehicle ecosystem.
The event opened with a research presentationby Hemal N Thakkar, Senior Practice Leader & Director, Crisil, outlining the “Passenger Vehicle Industry in India – Present Scenario & Future Roadmap.” This was followed by a presentation on “Introduction to Trak N Tell” by Pranshu Gupta, Founder & CEO, Trak N Tell, and a technical spotlight on “NVH & eMobility Repair Solutions: Driving Future Readiness” by Rohit Ekhe, Application Engineer, ACM India & Alistair Saldanha, Specialist – Market & Customer Activation, ACM India, Henkel.
Morning Highlights
The inaugural panel discussion, moderated by Hemal N Thakkar (Crisil), featured industry leaders Shashank Srivastava (Maruti Suzuki India), Amar Jatin Sheth (FADA), Arun Kumar Malhotra (Auto Industry Veteran), Puneet Anand (Hyundai Motor India), and Prashant Shitoot (Auto Yoga Car Wellness Center). The conversation highlighted the evolving dynamics of India’s automotive industry post-COVID, with a strong focus on shifting consumer preferences from hatchbacks to SUVs, affordability challenges in entry-level cars, and the growing role of CNG, hybrids, and EVs in the fuel mix. Panelists emphasized the need for regulatory clarity on GST, ethanol blending, and CAFE norms, while also underscoring the importance of strengthening aftermarket services, upgrading local service providers, and embracing new revenue models like telematics and subscriptions. Sustainability, safety, technology adoption, and affordability were identified as the four pillars shaping India’s automotive future, with collaboration across OEMs, government, and stakeholders seen as critical for long-term growth.
Track Sessions
PVF 2025 featured two parallel tracks, enabling attendees to curate their experience across Strategy, Growth & Market Dynamics and Technology, Innovation & the Future.
Track 1: Strategy, Growth & Market Dynamics
- Electrification of PVs – The panel brought together experts from IIT Kanpur, Altigreen, ARAI, Henkel, and Stellantis to discuss the evolution of India’s automotive industry, with a focus on electrification, innovation, and industry-academia collaboration. Key themes included the transition from ICE to EVs, lightweighting and advanced materials, the role of startups and research centers, and the need for stronger R&D and infrastructure to scale EV adoption. Panelists also highlighted challenges such as limited domestic battery production, raw material dependence, and talent development, while stressing the importance of a collaborative ecosystem to meet global standards and enhance India’s competitiveness against markets like China.
- Hybrids, ICE, CNG & Hydrogen: The panel on Fuel Mix of the Future brought together experts from NIBE, ICCT, IIT Kanpur, Hydrovert Energy, and ARAI to discuss India’s evolving automotive fuel ecosystem. Speakers highlighted the shift in passenger vehicle fuel trends over the past two decades, the government’s ambitious EV adoption targets, and the challenges of infrastructure, technology, and affordability. They emphasized that India’s path to cleaner mobility must be technology-neutral—balancing EVs with hybrids, CNG, biofuels, and hydrogen—while fostering indigenous R&D, supportive policies, and collaborative efforts to ensure energy security and sustainability.
Building a Resilient Supply Chain – A distinguished panel featuring leaders from top automakers and mobility firms explored the challenges and opportunities within India’s electric vehicle (EV) supply chain. The discussion underscored the country’s dependence on imports—especially battery cells—while emphasizing the strategic imperatives for building a sustainable EV ecosystem. Senior executives from Honda Cars India, Omega Seiki Mobility, Tata AutoComp, BMW, and Nomura highlighted the importance of localization, stronger supplier partnerships, and robust risk management to navigate global disruptions.
Track 2: Technology, Innovation & the Future
- AI in the Driver’s Seat – A panel featuring experts from Xane AI, Skoda Auto Volkswagen, Kinetic Green, and DaveAI explored the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the automotive industry. The discussion highlighted AI’s growing impact on design, customer engagement, supply chains, and aftersales, while addressing challenges of affordability, data privacy, and scalability in emerging markets like India. Panelists emphasized the need for responsible, empathetic AI solutions, stronger regulatory frameworks, and industry-academia collaboration to build talent and ensure localized, consumer-centric innovation.
- Software-Defined Vehicles – A panel featuring experts from EY-Parthenon, Elektrobit, ARAI, Vayve Mobility, and HackersEra explored the rise of Software Defined Vehicles (SDVs) and their impact on India’s automotive future. Discussions covered the shift from hardware to software-driven platforms, the critical role of cybersecurity and over-the-air (OTA) updates, evolving regulations, and new monetization models for software features. Panelists highlighted India’s opportunity to lead in SDV development by leveraging its strong IT talent, growing EV ecosystem, and increased R&D investments, while stressing the need for collaboration across OEMs, suppliers, regulators, and academia.
- Inside the Cockpit of Tomorrow – A panel moderated by Kaushik Madhavan featured experts from Trak N Tell, Stellantis India, and the National Institute of Design, who shared insights on the future of in-vehicle infotainment, telematics, and automotive design. Discussions focused on startups building credibility, OEMs driving differentiation through UX and connected features, and the role of design in creating emotional user experiences. Panelists also highlighted challenges around affordability, ADAS adoption, and consumer awareness, stressing the need for innovation, data-driven solutions, and industry-academia collaboration to shape India’s next phase of mobility.
Afternoon Deep Dives
Two powerful closing discussions provided a forward-looking lens on the industry:
- Deep Dive into Consumer Insights – A panel led by ICRA’s K. Srikumar with leaders from Mahindra & Mahindra, MG Motor, Chitra Cars, Honda (former), and Trak N Tell examined the evolving Indian passenger car market, highlighting shifts in consumer mindset, dealership dynamics, and financing trends. Discussions covered rising demand for safety and comfort features, the growing importance of digital research alongside the continued relevance of dealerships, the rapid expansion of the used car market, and challenges in EV adoption due to financing and infrastructure gaps. Panelists agreed that the future will be driven by safety, cost efficiency, electrification, and personalized customer experiences.
- Vehicle Safety: Becoming Customers’ Top Priority – Moderated by Neelam Pandey Pathak (WIMA & Rozgar Dhaba), the panel brought together experts from ARAI, IDTR, ZF, and Bharat NCAP to address India’s growing vehicle safety challenges. With India accounting for 11% of global road accidents, the discussion highlighted advanced crash testing, driver training, localized safety technologies, and the rising influence of Bharat NCAP ratings. Panelists emphasized that safety is shifting from a regulatory mandate to a consumer-driven priority, with evolving standards, ADAS integration, and stronger OEM–supplier collaboration set to align India with global benchmarks by 2027-28.
Other Notable Speakers Included
The forum also featured insights from Anil Srivastava (IIT Kanpur), Avik Chatterjee (ARAI), Achyut Deshmukh (Stellantis), Nandakumar Kollu (Elektrobit India), Nilesh Bajaj (Vayve Mobility), Vikash Chaudhary (HackersEra Automotive Cybersecurity), Preetesh Singh (Nomura Research Institute), Abhishek Sahi (Honda Cars India), Dr. Ajit Kumar Jindal (Tata AutoComp), Dr. Arvind Gupta (BMW), Priyanka Shukla (Stellantis), Pratheek P Ashok (National Institute of Design), Ravinder Singh Rawal (Mahindra & Mahindra Automotive), Saurabh Tripathi (Morris Garages India), and Minesh Jha (Auto Industry Veteran), who enriched the forum with their diverse expertise and perspectives.
Looking Ahead
With an exceptional turnout and dynamic participation, the 3rd Passenger Vehicle Forum reinforced its role as a “not-to-miss” annual knowledge hub for India’s passenger vehicle sector. As the industry accelerates toward electrification, software-defined mobility, and safer customer experiences, PVF will continue to serve as a catalyst for dialogue, collaboration, and transformation.
For more details or to participate in PVF 2026, please visit https://pvforum.in or contact Raghav Shankar, Event Director at +91-9599881027 or [email protected].
