Greaves Cotton, a company with a clear and ambitious mission, has committed to touching 1 billion lives, reflecting its purpose-driven business model. According to Nagesh Basavanhalli, Vice Chairman of Greaves Cotton, the company’s purpose is to empower lives, and this ethos shapes every aspect of its operations. Greaves Cotton focuses on placing consumers at the centre of its integrated auto ecosystem to drive sustainable mobility. This purpose is evident in Greaves Cotton’s diverse activities, which span the entire value chain, from components and engineering programs to vehicle production, multi-brand services, and financing solutions for electric vehicles (EVs).
Greaves Cotton’s approach touches millions daily through a network of 20,000+ mechanics, 10,000+ retailers, and over five million engines on the road. With a substantial presence in India’s two-wheeler and three-wheeler markets, which collectively make up more than 80% of the country’s transportation, Greaves Cotton’s impact is both wide-reaching and deep. At every stage of this value chain, the company is committed to offering sustainable solutions that provide the right total cost of ownership and operational uptime, ensuring that mobility remains accessible to the masses.
Green Goals
Greaves Cotton is making significant strides toward supporting India’s national environmental targets, including the Panchamrit initiative, which aims to accelerate the transition to clean energy. Basavanhalli notes that the company is investing in innovative technologies that align with this national vision, especially through fuel-agnostic powertrain solutions. Greaves Cotton promotes a mix of CNG, biodiesel, ethanol, and electric power options, allowing greater flexibility in energy sources. This approach not only bolsters energy security but also supports the wider adoption of renewable energy. The goal is to contribute to 50% of India’s energy requirements by 2030, a vision that Greaves Cotton is actively pursuing through its technology investments.
In addition, Greaves Cotton’s engineering division has launched a CPCB4-compliant genset, significantly reducing NOx emissions by about 90%. The company’s focus on clean technologies is further demonstrated through its adoption of solar power, which generates about 50 lakh units annually across several factories. These efforts contribute to reducing carbon intensity while benefiting both the company and the environment. Furthermore, Greaves Cotton’s community initiatives, including planting over 5,000 trees and implementing water conservation practices at its plants, reinforce the company’s commitment to sustainability.
India’s EV Adoption
As India pursues her journey toward achieving 30% EV adoption by 2030, Greaves Cotton is playing an active role in this transition. As of 2024, electric two-wheelers make up around 5% of total sales, while electric three-wheelers account for more than 50%. Basavanhalli emphasises that while significant progress has been made, further work is needed to ensure widespread EV adoption. Key to this progress is increasing consumer awareness and acceptance, especially as the cost of ownership and range for electric two- and three-wheelers become more established.
However, Basavanhalli points out that there are still challenges to overcome. Continued focus on local manufacturing of components, policy support, and infrastructure development are essential. He also notes the importance of improving the sales and service ecosystem for EVs, which will play a pivotal role in enhancing consumer confidence and ensuring the growth of the electric mobility market in India. Despite these hurdles, he is optimistic that India is heading in the right direction, with all the pieces coming together to ensure that the transition to electric mobility is successful.
Advancing Sustainable Transportation
To accelerate progress on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11.2, which focuses on sustainable transportation, Greaves Cotton advocates for a multi-faceted approach. According to Basavanhalli, adopting electric mobility, alongside other sustainable solutions like CNG, is crucial for the future of transportation in India. The company also believes that public policy can play an essential role by offering incentives and subsidies to encourage the adoption of sustainable vehicles.
Infrastructure development, particularly for charging and battery-swapping stations, is another key priority. Basavanhalli highlights that such infrastructure, supported by both the public and private sectors, will be vital for enabling widespread EV adoption. Additionally, Greaves Cotton is exploring collaborations with public transportation systems to integrate electric mobility solutions. The company sees significant potential in leveraging smart mobility technologies like fleet management systems and real-time traffic management solutions, which could improve urban mobility while reducing congestion and enhancing the user experience. As public transportation systems in India transition to electric fleets, this shift could provide the necessary momentum for broader adoption of electric vehicles across the country.
Union Budget 2025
Looking ahead, Basavanhalli shares his hopes for the upcoming Union Budget in 2025. He highlights key areas that could help drive the growth of sustainable mobility in India. First, strengthening the green mobility infrastructure is essential, particularly in rural areas. This could be achieved through public-private partnerships to enhance the charging network and ensure that electric mobility reaches every corner of the country.
Second, promoting research and development (R&D) in advanced clean technologies is crucial. Basavanhalli stresses the importance of developing India-centric solutions that are not only cost-effective but also optimised for the country’s unique conditions and duty cycles. Third, expanding manufacturing capabilities is vital for positioning India as a global hub for EV components and sustainable mobility solutions.
Finally, Basavanhalli emphasises the need to upskill and develop the workforce to meet the demands of the growing sustainable mobility sector. This involves collaboration between industry and academia to ensure that engineers, technicians, and other professionals are well-equipped to support the evolution of this new industry.
