Diwali meeting underscores India's ambition as global car‑making hub

On the occasion of Diwali, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met with senior executives of Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Ltd. at the Commerce House in New Delhi. The agenda focused on magnifying India’s domestic automotive manufacturing capacity, boosting electric‑vehicle outputs and stepping up vehicle exports to meet global demand.

The Skoda delegation was headed by its managing director and chief executive, and the discussion also covered deeper localisation of parts, encouraging innovation, and leveraging advanced manufacturing technologies.

Both sides explored strategies to cement India’s position as a worldwide automotive production hub and to broaden its integration into international supply chains. The interaction formed part of a series of talks conducted during the Diwali celebrations, following a broader session with commerce department officials.

In his festive social‑media outreach, Goyal portrayed Diwali as a time for new ideas, renewed energy and reflection on shared successes. He thanked the officials for strengthening India’s trade and investment landscape, urged them to outline clear objectives for the upcoming year, and wished the nation prosperity, health, peace and fresh opportunities.