Que: Could you elaborate on the high-demand job roles within EVs—particularly in battery tech, electric drivetrains, and charging infrastructure?

Ans: India’s EV market is accelerating rapidly, with over 1.96 million EVs registered in FY 2024–25, reflecting a 17 percent year-on-year growth. This momentum is driving high demand for specialised roles across battery technology, drivetrains, and charging infrastructure.

In battery tech, key roles include engineers working on lithium-ion and solid-state battery systems, battery management systems (BMS) specialists focused on thermal and safety management, and battery production engineers as large-scale manufacturing ramps up. In electric drivetrains, employers are seeking powertrain engineers, EV integration experts, and embedded systems developers to support motor and controller design.

The charging ecosystem is also hiring aggressively; electrical and infrastructure engineers are needed to plan and deploy networks, while software developers are building smart charging systems. Project managers oversee large-scale installations across cities and highways.

With EVs becoming more software-defined, data and software capabilities in BMS, vehicle control, and diagnostics are now considered essential complements to core hardware engineering roles.

Que: How is the convergence of auto and tech impacting the nature of talent demand? What kind of profiles are in demand today?

Ans: The convergence of the automotive and technology sectors is fundamentally reshaping talent requirements in India's automotive industry, which currently has around 4.2 million direct employees. Automakers report premium salaries for candidates in AI/ML, embedded software, and automation as these skills are crucial for next-gen vehicles. Alongside core EV engineers, demand is surging for software developers (for vehicle control units, infotainment, and autonomous features), data analysts, and cybersecurity specialists. Industry reports note that battery and powertrain experts must increasingly work with advanced EV software developers and data engineers to enable connected, intelligent vehicles. In short, talent in embedded software, IoT/cloud platforms and analytics (applied to mobility) is now as critical as traditional mechanical or electrical engineering expertise.

Que: Your report highlights Tier-2 clusters like Pune, Jaipur, and Coimbatore. What’s driving their emergence as green mobility hiring hotspots?

Ans: Tier-2 cities are becoming key talent hubs for the EV and auto-tech sectors due to a convergence of factors. These cities have strong engineering education ecosystems, with institutes producing employable graduates in core EV domains, such as electrical, mechanical, and embedded systems.

Tier-2 cities also offer cost advantages and an improved quality of life, making them attractive not only to employers but also to professionals seeking affordability and better living standards outside metro cities. Additionally, Smart City initiatives and EV-supportive state policies are enabling the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure and industrial activity, encouraging large manufacturing firms to establish operations in these regions.

Hiring data from 2025 shows that tech and IT hiring in Tier-2 cities has grown by 20–40 percent, outpacing many metros. Importantly, this growth is well-distributed across functions—from software and electronics to manufacturing and infrastructure—indicating a robust and diversified job market.

In essence, these cities combine skilled talent supply, economic efficiency, supportive policies, and rising market demand, making them increasingly vital to India’s green mobility hiring landscape.

Que: How are policy initiatives like FAME III or PLI schemes influencing hiring patterns? Are they pushing demand more in R&D, manufacturing, or service infrastructure?

Ans: Policy initiatives like FAME III and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes are significantly shaping hiring patterns in India’s EV and auto sectors. FAME III, with its substantial budget, broadens support across various types of electric vehicles—including commercial ones—spurring increased investments in both manufacturing and R&D. This is driving strong demand for engineers and researchers specialising in battery tech, drivetrains, and power electronics. At the same time, the expansion of charging infrastructure and after-sales services is boosting jobs in service, maintenance, and customer support.

The PLI schemes further accelerate this trend by encouraging the domestic manufacturing of batteries and EV components. This has led to large-scale hiring in factory operations, quality assurance, and process engineering, as well as in R&D for next-generation technologies.

Additionally, roles in supply chain management, logistics, and service infrastructure are growing to support the scaling ecosystem.

Que: What new skill sets are now considered essential for future-ready talent in the EV and auto-tech sectors?

Ans: In 2025, employers are prioritising professionals with strong technical expertise in battery systems, power electronics, electric drivetrains, and embedded controls. Proficiency in high-voltage architecture, battery management systems (BMS), and simulation tools remains critical across core engineering roles.

There is also rising demand for digital capabilities, particularly in AI/ML applications, vehicle telematics, cybersecurity, and cloud-based integration. As EVs evolve into software-defined machines, skills in embedded programming and connected vehicle technologies have become central to product development.

In parallel, companies are seeking individuals with a strong grasp of sustainability practices, product lifecycle management, and regulatory compliance. Soft skills such as adaptability, cross-functional collaboration, and a continuous learning mindset are increasingly valued, especially for roles that bridge engineering, business, and innovation.

Que: What advice would you offer to educational institutions and skilling platforms to keep pace with this rapid evolution in mobility talent needs?

Ans: Educational institutions and skilling platforms must adopt a more integrated, agile approach to meet the evolving demands of the EV and auto-tech sectors. Curricula must move beyond traditional disciplines and incorporate a blend of mechanical, electrical, software, and sustainability-focused learning. Emphasising hands-on training through industry-aligned labs, simulators, and practical modules is essential to ensure job readiness.

Equally important is the shift toward modular and flexible learning formats, such as micro-credentials and hybrid delivery models that allow learners to upskill quickly in fast-moving technologies. Regular curriculum updates in collaboration with industry, outcome-based training, and a strong focus on real-world applications will be critical to building a future-ready workforce equipped for the electric and intelligent mobility ecosystem.