India proposes slashing EV import taxes in UK free trade deal

India is proposing reducing import taxes on some electric vehicles from the UK in an effort to clinch a free-trade deal between the two nations by the end of the year, according to two people familiar with the discussions.

New Delhi is considering a concessional tariff of 30% on 2,500 electric vehicles imported annually from the UK priced above $80,000, the people said, asking not to be identified as the talks are private. India currently levies taxes between 70% and 100% on cars imported as completely built units, depending on their value.

The UK’s demand for import concessions on electric vehicles is one of the few outstanding issues in the free trade talks. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi had hoped to finalize the agreement by the end of last month, but it’s unlikely a deal will now be announced until December, Bloomberg News previously reported.  

India’s trade ministry didn’t immediately respond to a request for information. A spokesperson for the UK trade department declined to comment as the talks are still ongoing.

India is the world’s most populous country, with demand for electric vehicles rising among middle-class and wealthy buyers. The adoption of EVs in the country has been held back by the high cost of the cars, a dearth of options and lack of charging stations. Opening up the EV segment of the market could also speed up cleaner transport in a nation with the world’s most toxic air. 

Electric vehicle sales in India stood at 49,800 last year, making up just 1.3% of the 3.8 million passenger vehicles sold, according to BloombergNEF.

In India’s cost-conscious market, the country’s best-selling electric car, Tata Motors Ltd.’s Nexon.ev, is priced at less than 1.5 million rupees ($18,000). German luxury automakers BMW AG, Mercedes-Benz Group AG and Volkswagen AG’s Audi sell electric cars above $80,000 in India. 

Modi’s government is treading cautiously on the EV imports as it seeks to build a domestic manufacturing industry for electric vehicles and parts. The government in 2021 announced a $3.1 billion production-linked incentive program for local EV production.

A final decision on India’s position on import duties on EVs has yet to be made, according to people familiar with the discussions. 

India and the UK had already softened their position on a number of issues, including reducing tariffs on British cars and scotch whisky, Bloomberg News previously reported. 

The two countries expect the free trade deal would double bilateral trade by 2030 through lower tariffs and increased market access. It would also be a political win for both leaders, with the UK-India pact seen as a key prize of Brexit and a way to boost India’s manufacturing ambitions.   

India imposes a range of import duties on cars. For vehicles purchased from overseas unassembled, the tax ranges from 15% to 35%.