Davos 2025: Devendra Fadnavis Underlines Focus On EVs, Advocates Embracing AI Amid Disruptions

Electric vehicles are the future and a key focus area of Maharashtra, which is prioritising public transport by integrating a significant number of EVs, according to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

"We are getting a lot of investments in EV manufacturing. JSW, Mahindra, Toyota are building plants. Many global players plan to manufacture EVs in our state," Fadnavis told NDTV on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum summit in Davos.

The chief minister revealed that the transition of the entire public transport system to EVs was currently underway. "The BMC has placed an order for 5,000 EVs. Pune already has a fleet of 1,000 EVs. The MSRTC, which is our state transport, has placed an order for 5,000 electric vehicles," he said.

Fadnavis hopes to see the entire public transport fleet to be fully green in three to four years.

Apart from EVs, Fadnavis emphasised the importance of embracing AI and not fearing job losses. "The same argument was there when computers were introduced... they would say we will be jobless and will never progress," he said.

He also called for embracing artificial intelligence. Stressing on proactive adaptation, he underlined the need to prepared for the disruptions it would bring.

"I always feel that you cannot shy away from technology. We are actually a globalised community and in such a community if you say that 'I'm not using AI', it doesn't work," he said. "I think we must know that AI is the reality."

He acknowledged that AI was going to change the job market. "AI is going to create new jobs and take away some old jobs. So, upskilling, reskilling, and creating a human resource that can augment these jobs is the prime responsibility of the government," Fadnavis said.

Defence Sector

Fadnavis highlighted that Maharashtra had created an ecosystem for manufacturing defence equipment, which was crucial from a national perspective. Bharat Forge had a significant presence in Maharashtra, and this sector was developing with India increasingly becoming an exporter of weaponry.

Fadnavis announced his government was looking to build an "Innovation City" spanning 100 hectares near Mumbai.

"This large ecosystem has been created in Nagpur and other parts of Maharashtra. We have signed MoUs with Bharat Forge and other companies that are bringing FDI into defence manufacturing," he said.

The chief minister noted that manufacturing had received a boost due to the import obligation introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which required companies to have parts manufactured in India. "That started the ecosystem, and now we are actually producing and even exporting equipment," he said.