New Delhi, In a reaffirmation of his stance, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, holding the portfolio for Road Transport and Highways, stated that he will not permit the introduction of autonomous cars in India. Speaking at an event hosted by IIM Nagpur and interviewed by Business Today, Gadkari emphasized that the implementation of driverless vehicles would result in the loss of jobs for approximately 80 lakh drivers.
Gadkari, a senior BJP leader, expressed his opinion that while autonomous vehicles might be suitable for countries with smaller populations, they are not apt for India, where a significant number of people are employed as drivers. He reiterated his commitment, stating, “I said in the US itself that I will not allow driverless cars in India at any cost. This is because in our country, a large number of people work as drivers….driverless cars will, therefore, snatch their jobs.”
This marks Gadkari’s third public statement against the idea of introducing autonomous cars in India, with previous declarations in July 2017 and December 2019 citing the same concern about potential unemployment in the driving sector.
Touching on the ongoing discussions between the Indian government and Tesla, the world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer led by Elon Musk, Gadkari welcomed Tesla but insisted that manufacturing must take place within India rather than importing. He stated, “We welcome Tesla. But manufacturing in China, and selling in India, that is not possible. We are open to them manufacturing from here only.”
The minister’s comments add to the ongoing discourse surrounding the future of autonomous vehicles and their feasibility in a country like India.
