EV startups demand PLI Auto overhaul after eligibility rules block them from incentives

Their tech leads, but the rules sideline them anyway

Electric vehicle startups are calling for a major rethink of India’s production-linked incentive scheme for automobiles, saying PLI Auto’s eligibility rules favor established automakers. Despite EV-first firms leading on technology and localization, they’re excluded and forced to compete at a cost disadvantage. Founders want reforms that better match India’s rapidly evolving EV ecosystem.