My opinion: Yes, it is time to rethink mobility — but not blindly

The automobile industry cannot continue planning its future as if oil will remain cheap, stable, and politically risk-free. Every oil shock reminds us that mobility is not just about cars; it is about national security, household budgets, logistics cost, pollution, and industrial competitiveness.

The answer, however, is not “replace every petrol and diesel vehicle with EVs tomorrow.” That is too simplistic. The real future of mobility will be mixed: electric vehicles for daily urban use, hybrids as a transition bridge, CNG/biofuels where suitable, stronger public transport, better freight planning, and cleaner electricity.

Globally, the EV shift is already real. Electric car sales grew by more than 20% in 2025 to around 21 million units, meaning roughly one in four cars sold worldwide was electric. The IEA also estimates that the global EV fleet avoided about 1.7 million barrels per day of oil consumption in 2025.

But oil is not disappearing immediately. OPEC’s long-term outlook still projects global oil demand reaching nearly 123 million barrels per day by 2050, showing that many developing economies, freight systems, aviation, petrochemicals, and heavy transport will remain oil-linked for a long time.

So my view is this: the automobile industry should stop thinking like a fuel industry and start thinking like a mobility technology industry. The winners will not be companies that only make engines. The winners will be companies that master batteries, software, charging networks, lightweight materials, efficient manufacturing, financing, after-sales service, and lifecycle recycling.

For India, this question is even more important. India’s EV market is growing, especially in two-wheelers and three-wheelers. As of Q3 FY26, India’s EV sales reached about 6,89,050 units, with around 7.29% penetration of total automotive sales, and two-wheelers plus three-wheelers formed the major share of EV volumes. The government’s PM E-DRIVE scheme also has a ₹10,900 crore outlay to support electric mobility and EV infrastructure.

The biggest mistake would be to see this only as an environmental issue. It is also an economic and strategic issue. Every litre of imported oil saved improves resilience. Every EV battery, motor, charger, and component manufactured locally creates a new industrial opportunity. Every electric bus, electric scooter, and electric delivery vehicle reduces daily operating cost.

But we must also be honest. EVs need better charging infrastructure, affordable financing, battery safety, reliable service networks, cleaner power, and less dependence on imported battery minerals. Without solving these, EV adoption will remain uneven.

My final position

Yes, the oil crisis is a strong warning signal. It is time to rethink the future of mobility.

But the future should not be sold as “EV versus petrol.” The better question is: Which fuel, vehicle, and mobility model is most efficient for each use case?

For short city travel, electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, buses, and compact cars make strong sense. For long-distance, rural, commercial, and heavy-duty use, hybrids, cleaner fuels, improved diesel efficiency, and eventually hydrogen or advanced batteries may all have roles. For cities, the real revolution may not be only electric cars, but fewer unnecessary car trips through better public transport and smarter urban planning.

The oil crisis should push the automobile industry to become cleaner, more flexible, and less dependent on one fuel. Mobility’s future will belong to countries and companies that understand one thing clearly: energy security and mobility security are now the same conversation.