Electric vehicles (EVs) are not the only solution to reduce pollution, and the auto industry should remain technology-agnostic in its efforts to cut emissions while giving consumers a greater choice, said Venu Srinivasan, Chairman Emeritus, TVS Motor.
“I always believe we have to be agnostic [in technology] and look at the net effect on the country in terms of pollution, quality and environment. So, EV is not the only solution,” he said on the sidelines of the IFQM Symposium 2026 on Monday.
Srinivasan said EVs should be allowed to grow organically, with consumer choice playing an important role. In India, EV adoption has been gaining ground, particularly in the three-wheeler and two-wheeler segments.
On ethanol blending in petrol, the auto veteran said the policy could help India reduce its dependence on fuel imports, while the impact on vehicle performance has so far been limited. “The degradation in performance is very marginal. I think that should not deter us. After all, the whole of Brazil runs on ethanol,” he noted.
Further, Srinivasan said consumers should not necessarily need a choice of fuel blends up to E10, but there could be a case for offering a choice at higher blending levels because of concerns over the impact of higher ethanol content on vehicle materials. “There might be a mild fuel drop, but I think that is being played up too much. The country should look at the imports. And it is ecologically more friendly… I always believe that their choice should be there,” he said.
He also stressed the need for Indian companies to raise quality and productivity standards as they seek to expand their presence in the global markets, just like what Germans have done. “However, we have to go a long long way because your benchmarks in the world — from Korea and China to Japan — that we have to meet and exceed if you want a fair share of global manufacturing and products and services,” he added.
Published on October 5, 2026
