Inaugural Edition Of HPCL Presents Times Drive Auto Summit & Awards 2025 Concludes On A High Note

Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport and Highways, attended the event as Chief Guest. In a fireside chat, he said India is now the third-largest automotive market and may reach the top position within five years. He mentioned the falling cost of lithium-ion batteries and said prices of electric and petrol/diesel vehicles could be similar in six months. Gadkari also announced that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will set up 670 EV charging stations on highways along with required services.

In a Fireside Chat with Puja Sethi, Managing Editor – Digital Content, BCCL, Amit Garg, Director of Marketing at HPCL, shared the company’s approach to transport energy. He said HPCL is expanding its EV charging network, creating a digital tool for users, and working on fuels including CNG, LNG and hydrogen. He also said HPCL and Volvo will open a hydrogen fuel outlet for HFCEVs in Visakhapatnam.

C.S. Vigneshwar, President of the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), spoke on the function of auto dealers in the vehicle supply system. He referred to their position as initial buyers from manufacturers, their role in data management, and efforts to adapt to changes in vehicle sales and electric mobility.

Prashant K Banerjee, Chief Executive Director of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), outlined the shift toward fuels such as CNG, LNG, electricity and biofuels. He said government policy and cooperation between institutions are necessary to build a transport system with lower carbon output.

The Times Drive Auto Awards 2025 recognised excellence across major categories in the mobility and transport space. The awards covered two-wheeler and four-wheeler segments, with titles such as Motorcycle of the Year, Scooter of the Year, Adventure Motorcycle of the Year and Commuter Motorcycle of the Year. Passenger vehicle categories included Car of the Year, Performance Car of the Year, Luxury Electric Car of the Year, Compact SUV of the Year and MPV of the Year. Special recognitions were given for design, innovation, sustainability, clean mobility and digital transformation. Other segments included awards for CSR Initiatives, Best in Class Automotive Parts, Dealer Performance and contributions to the sector through Heritage, Electric Transformation and Social Change. The list also featured categories like Most Popular Auto Women Club, 4x4 SUV of the Year and Dealer Personality of the Year - Super Car, reflecting a broad focus on both industry achievements and user experiences.

The summit brought together multiple perspectives on India's automotive future, with a shared focus on electric mobility, fuel alternatives and digital transformation. Discussions reflected ongoing efforts to align government policies, industry practices and infrastructure development toward sustainable transportation goals.