Former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant has criticised the newly notified CAFE-3 norms for passenger vehicles, saying the framework lacks a clear roadmap for the future of mobility and does not push strongly enough towards electric vehicles.
New Delhi, Sep 30 — Former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant has criticised the newly notified Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE-3) norms for passenger vehicles, calling them “backward looking at worst” and “status quoist at best”.
In a social media post, Kant said the new regulations lacked vision and represented a missed opportunity for India to technologically leapfrog in mobility, similar to the progress achieved through UPI and smartphones.
He argued that electric vehicles should be treated as the eventual destination rather than one among several technology choices. Kant also pointed to India’s dependence on imported oil and said fuel-efficiency regulations should push manufacturers towards batteries and electric mobility.
Kant questioned the target of electric cars accounting for 11% of sales by 2032, noting that EVs are already close to 8% of car sales in the current financial year. He also raised concerns over the Bureau of Energy Efficiency’s role in selling credits.
The new CAFE-3 norms broadly cover passenger cars including hatchbacks, sedans, sport utility vehicles and MPVs with seating capacity for up to eight passengers apart from the driver. The rules will apply to new passenger vehicles manufactured or imported for sale in India.
A major change from the draft framework is the removal of a proposed concession for lightweight petrol cars weighing below 909 kg. The final norms have also revised the target line to provide a more weight-sensitive approach, with comparatively softer requirements for lighter vehicles and higher fuel-efficiency expectations for heavier vehicles.
The reference weight has been increased from 1,082 kg under the existing norms to 1,229 kg under the new framework, a rise of around 13.6%. The government has said the new norms provide manufacturers greater flexibility to adopt cleaner technologies, alternative fuels and other innovative solutions.
