SHAPING THE EVOLUTION OF TRANSPORTATION & MOBILITY

THERE IS A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT DIALOGUE GOING ON ACROSS THE EXTENDED GLOBAL AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY ABOUT THE FUTURE EVOLUTION OF TRANSPORTATION AND MOBILITY. WE SPEAK TO KAMAL BALI, PRESIDENT & MANAGING DIRECTOR, VOLVO GROUP, INDIA, ABOUT THE EMERGENCE OF A NEW ECOSYSTEM OF MOBILITY.

- SUJATHA VISHNURAJ

LAST NOVEMBER, THE COP26 CLIMATE Summit brought back to the table something that the pandemic itself has highlighted and even accelerated - the urgent need to address fundamental transformations in current urban mobility patterns. The way we move around today is clearly unsustainable intense congestion, environmental imbalance, and the serious impact that pollution has on the well-being of the population. Urban centres generate 70% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and road transport accounts for 12% of them, according to the International Energy Agency and C40 Cities.

India is the fifth largest car market in the world and has the potential to become one of the top three in the near future-with about 40 crore customers in the need of mobility solutions by the year 2030. Speaking at the world leaders' summit at the UN conference in Glasgow, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged that India will reach net zero emissions by 2070.

To ensure a positive growth rate towards achieving India's Net Zero Emissions by 2070, a transportation revolution is required in India which will lead to better walkability, public transportation; railways, roads, and better cars. There's no mystery about why we pay such close attention to the ups and downs of the auto industry-its extended value chain is an essential engine of global economic growth.

We spoke with Kamal Bali, President & Managing Director, Volvo Group, India about why it is necessary to rethink the current mobility model and seek formulas that allow us to move around in the most flexible, efficient, and cleanest way possible, rationalising the use of the private vehicle.

Sujatha Vishnuraj (SV): Volvo Group is actively engaged in national priorities such as Make in India, Smart Cities, Electromobility, and New Road safety policies. Could you tell us Volvo's role in Atmanirbhar Bharat?