The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) today convened the 2nd SIAM Automotive Taxation Conference 2025 under the theme “Drive with Policy Reforms and Innovation to Build Viksit Bharat.” The event brought together government officials, industry leaders, and tax experts to discuss key challenges and opportunities in automotive taxation, with an emphasis on policy stability, compliance efficiency, and technological integration.
The conference featured discussions on the role of taxation in supporting the growth of India’s automotive sector, GST compliance mechanisms, and the use of artificial intelligence and data analytics to streamline tax processes. Stakeholders emphasized the importance of a stable and predictable tax regime to support long-term investments, innovation, and sustainable development in the industry.
Speaking at the event, Shashank Priya, Special Secretary & Member (GST, CX&ST), Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Ministry of Finance, outlined ongoing government efforts to improve the GST framework. He highlighted initiatives such as rationalization of tax rates, resolution of pending disputes, and improvements in refund mechanisms—particularly for businesses facing inverted duty structures. He also noted progress in automating data filing and enhancing reconciliation processes for credit notes.
Vivek Ranjan, Member (Tax Policy & Legal), CBIC, along with Bhaskar Goswami, Joint Secretary, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), and Nisha Gupta, Senior Vice President, GSTN, shared insights into proposed reforms aimed at improving ease of doing business. These include system enhancements for auto-population of returns, simplification of procedures, and reducing compliance burdens for taxpayers.
Industry perspectives were provided by senior executives from leading automotive companies. V. Lakshmikumaran, Founder and Managing Partner of Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan Attorneys, underscored the automobile sector’s significance as a major contributor to employment and manufacturing, reaffirming its strategic role in the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Rajesh Shukla, Chairman of SIAM’s Taxation Policy Group and Head of Indirect Taxation at Tata Motors Ltd., Rajeev Goyal, Chairman of SIAM’s Taxation Procedural Group and CFO – Auto & Farm at Mahindra & Mahindra, and Sanjeev Agarwal, Chairman of SIAM’s Direct Tax Group and Head of Taxation & Customs at BMW India, discussed opportunities for refining tax policies and procedures to better align with industry needs.
Arnab Roy, CFO of Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., described GST as a transformative reform that has eliminated tax arbitrage and improved compliance efficiency. He stressed the need for policy predictability to support continued investment in research, development, and energy transition technologies.
Similarly, Vivek Anand, CFO of Hero MotoCorp Ltd., acknowledged the progress in tax reforms over the past decade and called for further rationalization of GST slabs, clearer product classification, and smoother input tax credit mechanisms to reduce uncertainty and administrative complexity.
The conference concluded with a reaffirmation of SIAM’s commitment to fostering sustained dialogue between the automotive industry and policymakers. The discussions highlighted a shared vision for a balanced, transparent, and efficient taxation system that supports industrial growth, innovation, and India’s broader economic development goals.