The Indian automotive industry, already among the top five globally in vehicle production, is grappling with complex sustainability challenges — from high carbon emissions and resource depletion to gaps in recycling infrastructure and the safe disposal of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs). Now, with more than 230 million vehicles projected to be on Indian roads by 2030, experts warn that the transition to green mobility cannot succeed without simultaneously addressing how vehicles are made, used, and responsibly retired.
It is against this backdrop that the Sustainable Mobility Conclave 2025 is set to take place at the NATRAX facility in Indore — one of the world’s largest automotive testing centres. Organizers are calling it not just another conference, but a movement to reimagine, redesign, and reinvent how the Indian automotive industry carves a sustainable future.
The Mission: Circular, Sustainable, Low-Emission Future
With the theme Recycling, Circularity, and Sustainability in Mobility, the conclave will align India’s mobility sector with global best practices in environmental responsibility. Grounded in the “9R” framework of circularity — Refuse, Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Refurbish, Remanufacture, Repurpose, and Recycle — the event aims to create a roadmap for Indian automotive players to integrate lifecycle thinking into design and manufacturing.
This comes at a crucial time. India’s End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) Management Rules, 2022 and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) mandates are beginning to reshape industry compliance requirements. Currently, India recycles less than 25% of scrapped vehicle materials, in stark contrast to the 95% recovery rate achieved in the European Union.
Why It Matters
India is expected to witness nearly 80 million electric vehicles (EVs) on the road by 2030, as per NITI Aayog projections. But experts caution that without parallel investment in recycling networks, second-life battery management, and renewable-powered manufacturing, EVs themselves could strain natural resources and create waste bottlenecks.
Switching to recycled inputs, adopting bio-based alternatives, and diversifying supply chains are being recognized as not merely compliance exercises but strategic imperatives. The conclave also echoes Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to make India a leader in global sustainability efforts, while reducing dependence on costly raw material imports, especially lithium, nickel, and rare earths.
Two Days of Action-Packed Summits
The conclave will bring together auto OEMs, recyclers, policymakers, startups, and academia for a series of high-impact sessions.
Day 1 Highlights:
- Session 1: Circular Economy Lessons – Tapping into waste as a resource, with a strong focus on e-waste, industrial scrap, and auto components.
- Session 2: Nature’s Waste into Products – How bamboo, fruit pulp, seaweed, and more are being transformed into auto-grade materials.
- Session 3: From Policy to Practice – Bridging gaps between regulation and action; featuring deep dives into ESG, green data centres, and the Right to Repair.
- Session 4: Industry Success Stories – Real-world case studies from top OEMs on implementing sustainable systems.
Day 2 Focus Areas:
- Session 5: Beyond Metals – Innovation in plastic, rubber, and fiber reuse.
- Session 6: Sustainability Education – Building a green-ready workforce.
- Session 7: Organizational Sustainability – How automotive companies are embedding sustainability into their DNA.
- Session 8: Leadership Reflections – A unique dialogue on the societal impact of green mobility transitions.
The Road Ahead
With an expected presence of over 500+ delegates, including representatives from major OEMs, component makers, and government ministries, the conclave is expected to set the tone for India’s ambitious push towards a circular, low-emission mobility future.
esgnews.earth is proud to join the Sustainable Mobility Conclave 2025 as an official media partner, reinforcing our commitment to advancing dialogue on circularity, ESG, and sustainable mobility.
Registration link: https://forms.gle/cCFbifczt7WE1yfq8
