India’s EV Dreams Accelerate at Startup Mahakumbh’s Mobility Pavilion

Innovation roared to life at the Mobility Pavilion of Startup Mahakumbh, where India’s most promising mobility startups joined hands with policymakers and industry veterans to sketch a bold roadmap for the nation’s transportation future. As part of the country’s largest startup congregation—spearheaded by FICCI, ASSOCHAM, NASSCOM, TiE, IVCA and Bootstrap Foundation, and backed by DPIIT, MeitY, GeM, and SIDBI—the pavilion reflected how India's mobility sector is racing toward a transformative era.

Homegrown Innovation Takes the Wheel

The day opened with a dynamic panel on Systemic Challenges in Indian Mobility and Solutions, moderated by Chintan Daftardar, Program Head, Transport, WRI. Panelists including Porter CEO Uttam Digga, Sarla Aviation’s Adrian Smith, and GAIL’s R&D Chief AK Singh, emphasized the urgent need for localized supply chains, indigenous vehicle design, and decentralized infrastructure like battery swapping.

Dr. T Surya Kiran of ASRTU issued an open invitation to startups to disrupt public bus transportation, revealing that ASRTU is developing mechanisms to onboard startups into State Transport Utilities (STUs) without navigating cumbersome tendering processes.

Public Transport Calls for Startup Disruption

Mayank Jain, CEO – New Auto at CarDekho Group, added a compelling perspective:

“We have roughly a million STEM graduates coming out of India every year. That’s the envy of the world. There’s no reason India shouldn’t lead the AI-driven mobility movement.”

EV Adoption Finds Traction in Last-Mile Logistics

Another standout session—Accelerating EV Adoption in Last-Mile Mobility—was moderated by Bounce Co-founder Varun Agni. Panelists including Kunal Mudra of Astranova, Pulkit Khurana of Battery Smart, Sameer Aggarwal of RevFin, and others agreed that hyperlocal delivery networks are emerging as key testing grounds for EV adoption.

Agni pointed out persistent challenges in the sector:

“Infrastructure isn’t just about charging stations—it’s about spare parts, after-sale service, and access to repair.”

The Climate Impact of EVs Takes Center Stage

In The Electrification of Mobility and the Impact on the Climate, Sarla Aviation’s Adrian Schmidt moderated a discussion with leaders like Gagan Agarwal (Planet Electric), Mahua Acharya (INTENT), Feroz Khan (Hero MotoCorp), and Vaibhav Tyagi (Kazam).

Feroz Khan commended government schemes like the ₹26,000 crore PLI initiative but emphasized a shift in focus:

“Now it’s time for the industry to give back—by ensuring product quality and customer satisfaction.”

Showstoppers: Flying Taxis and Electric Tractors

Beyond panels, the pavilion drew huge crowds with futuristic exhibits. Sarla Aviation’s Flying Taxi and Moonrider’s Electric Tractor emerged as crowd-pullers, reflecting India’s leap into cutting-edge mobility solutions. Meanwhile, startups like Porter, Baaz, and Karishma Global Ventures showcased real-world solutions in logistics and transport tech.

Startup Mahakumbh Powers India’s Mobility Revolution

With over 50,000 business visitors, 3,000 exhibitors, and 1,000+ investors and accelerators from more than 50 countries, Startup Mahakumbh continues to position itself as India’s definitive innovation platform.

The Mobility Pavilion clearly demonstrated that India’s next phase of transportation won’t be built on legacy—it will be driven by innovation, collaboration, and an electric future.