New Delhi: In a push to strengthen India’s electric mobility and semiconductor ecosystem, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw met Tarun Mehta, Co-founder and CEO of Ather Energy, in New Delhi to discuss advancements in vehicle electronics and road safety, ANI reported.
In a social media post, Vaishnaw said the meeting focused on developments in vehicle electronics and how the India Semiconductor Mission can help enhance road safety and strengthen intelligent vehicle systems.
The discussions come as India steps up efforts to build domestic semiconductor capabilities to support sectors such as electric vehicles, electronics and advanced mobility. The India Semiconductor Mission aims to promote semiconductor manufacturing, design and innovation while strengthening supply chains for electronics and EVs.
The Union Budget 2026-27 announced India Semiconductor Mission 2.0, with a provision of Rs 1,000 crore for the 2026-27 financial year, marking a renewed push to expand the country’s semiconductor ambitions.
Ather Energy has been working closely with the government to support clean mobility. Last year, the company signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Under the partnership, Ather will collaborate with DPIIT through the Build in Bharat initiative led by the Startup Policy Forum, a group of more than 50 innovation-focused startups working to strengthen manufacturing in India.
The agreement includes mentorship for deep-tech startups, infrastructure support for companies in the EV value chain and joint innovation programmes such as the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge.
India’s electric two-wheeler segment has become central to the country’s shift towards electric mobility. According to the Ministry of Heavy Industries, sales of electric two-wheelers reached 11,49,334 units in FY 2024-25, up 21 per cent from 9,48,561 units in the previous year.
Government schemes such as the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles Phase II have supported this growth by offering incentives and promoting local manufacturing. Electric two-wheelers account for a major share of overall EV sales in India, underlining their importance in driving large-scale adoption of sustainable mobility.
Officials expect initiatives such as the India Semiconductor Mission and EV incentive programmes to further strengthen domestic manufacturing, technology development and the adoption of intelligent electric mobility solutions.
