Components like inverters and controllers rely heavily on semiconductor chips, and India's semiconductor policy must align with its EV goals to boost domestic production of semiconductors.
11 Nov 2025 | 3839 Views | By Yukta Mudgal & Shruti Shiraguppi
Semiconductor availability and resilience have emerged as the primary pain point for India's EV component manufacturers, overshadowing concerns about battery packs and motors, according to industry leaders speaking at the India EV Conclave.
"We are not into battery packs, motors...what we are focusing on is semiconductor resilience and that ...
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Semiconductor availability and resilience have emerged as the primary pain point for India's EV component manufacturers, overshadowing concerns about battery packs and motors, according to industry leaders speaking at the India EV Conclave.
"We are not into battery packs, motors...what we are focusing on is semiconductor resilience and that is where the pain lies," declared Vikas Marwah, CEO of Lumax Auto Industries, articulating a challenge that resonates across the automotive value chain.
Karn Nagpal, President of Rosmerta Technologies, echoed similar concerns, noting that while "most of our hardware is already localized," for modules that currently rely on European partners, the company aims to source locally "once fabs in India come online in the next few years."
The semiconductor bottleneck is particularly acute in the EV sector. Components like inverters and controllers rely heavily on semiconductor chips, and India's semiconductor policy must align with its EV goals to boost domestic production of semiconductors, which will boost localization of motor controllers and other electronic parts.
Modern EVs are software-defined vehicles (SDVs) requiring sophisticated Battery Management System (BMS) software, with inverters and motors needing real-time firmware updates, and connected features like ADAS, OTA updates, and V2G requiring robust software-hardware synchronization.
Prashanth Doreswamy from AUMOVIO India emphasized that "growth is coming from software and software-based services. We should localise R&D in software first," highlighting how the semiconductor and software challenges are interlinked.
The global semiconductor shortage that disrupted automotive production in 2020-2022 exposed India's vulnerability. While several semiconductor fabrication facilities are planned for India in the coming years, the timeline for meaningful domestic production remains uncertain.
Government incentives are increasingly focused on supporting local manufacturing rather than direct consumer subsidies, and semiconductor manufacturing initiatives are expected to bolster the local EV supply chain.
Industry experts note that India has strong IT talent but lacks experience in automotive-grade embedded systems (ASIL-D safety, real-time constraints), and localized hardware often struggles to integrate with advanced imported software platforms.
The semiconductor challenge extends beyond availability to include technological sophistication. The transition from Silicon to Silicon Carbide (SiC) to Gallium Nitride (GaN) semiconductors for higher efficiency represents a rapidly moving target for domestic manufacturers.
For component manufacturers like Lumax, the semiconductor focus represents a strategic choice. Rather than competing in crowded segments like batteries where China dominates supply chains, focusing on semiconductors and allied electronics could offer India a differentiated pathway.
Marwah's emphasis on "remaining fuel agnostic" also makes sense in this context – semiconductors are critical for both ICE and EV vehicles, particularly as internal combustion vehicles become more electronic and software-driven.
The remarks from industry leaders suggest that India's EV ambitions will remain constrained until the semiconductor ecosystem matures domestically, making the success of India's semiconductor mission critical not just for electronics but for the entire mobility transition.
The India EV Conclave 2025 was presented by Chargezone, with Rosmerta Technologies as the Platinum Partner. The event is powered by IPG Automotive and Gulf Oil Lubricants India, with PTC serving as the Technology Partner. Associate Partners include Spark Minda, Radici Group, and Delta Electronics. The conclave also has trade partnerships with FADA, ASDC, and ICAT.