The low representation of women in automotive and EV technology stems from an educational gap, with only 6% of mechanical engineering students being women versus 36% representation of women in CS program. This educational gap reduces the pool of qualified women candidates for technical roles. To bridge this, the industry must promote early STEM exposure and hands-on workshops to encourage girls to explore technical fields, says Ankita Jain, Co-founder & Chief of Staff, Vayve Mobility.
Q: The Vayve Eva claims to be India’s first solar-powered electric car. Kindly take us through its journey and technology used? What are your future plans regarding market expansion?
Ankita Jain: Having lived in Mumbai and endured countless traffic jams, we witnessed first-hand the reality that 40% of urban commuters travel alone. With average vehicle occupancy at just 1.5 people, a 2-seater design meets actual consumer needs of city travel, while aligning with India’s 10-fold household income growth that enables second car purchases.
Vayve Mobility was formed in 2021 with a vision to redefine urban mobility experience. We showcased Eva at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo in Jan 2025. Our “born electric” skateboard platform delivers exceptional efficiency through: High-voltage powertrain with CCS2 fast charging, In-house battery pack for optimal performance, Zonal architecture reducing wiring harness by 50% and Configurable Vehicle Control Unit for comprehensive operation & diagnostics. The Eva’s solar integration provides 10-12km of daily range through high-efficiency panels that charge while driving or parked—a meaningful contribution to the average 35km daily commute.
We plan to open experience centers next year in Pilot cities and then expand presence in Metro & Tier-1 cities. We would partner with multi-brand dealerships for higher reach in Tier-2 cities. Internationally, we’re targeting the Global South (Southeast Asia, Middle East, Africa, Latin America), with all platforms developed to EU regulations for expedited market access.
Q: The automotive sector has traditionally been male-dominated. As a woman entrepreneur in this space, what challenges have you faced while leading Vayve Mobility, and how have you navigated them?
Ankita Jain: Roles in automotive industry often involve extensive on-site requirements that are less conducive to remote work, creating significant barriers for maintaining professional and family responsibilities. To overcome these challenges, I adopted a hybrid approach – establishing fixed limited hours for essential meetings and reviews at the development centre, while maintaining flexibility for other work hours.
Another challenge was the lack of a traditional automotive background, which initially limited technical expertise. I addressed this through a commitment to hands-on learning, actively seeking guidance and engaging with senior experts who could provide in-depth review from their experiences.
Q: Many companies are now aiming for a 50% women workforce in the next 5-10 years. How is Vayve Mobility contributing to this vision, and what strategies have worked in attracting and retaining female talent in engineering and leadership roles?
At Vayve Mobility, we’ve encountered significant challenges in attracting women talent to our small team of under 50 people due to the limited pool of women in automotive engineering. This underscores a fundamental issue that must be addressed before companies can realistically achieve 50% women workforce targets in engineering & leadership roles.
Q: Women professionals are playing a key role in shaping the future of EVs and sustainable mobility. How do you see female leadership influencing the design, technology, and adoption of EVs in India?
Ankita Jain: Suman Mishra and Ramkripa Ananthan have been notable examples of female leadership in Automotive sector. Suman Mishra, Managing Director of Mahindra Last Mile Mobility, has demonstrating driving large-scale EV adoption. Ramkripa, former Head of Design at Mahindra & Mahindra, led the design of iconic vehicles like the Mahindra Thar, XUV700, and Scorpio, blending functionality with aesthetics. At Vayve, we have had pleasure of working with Ramkripa for laying foundation of Eva’s design language for wide audience appeal.
For Eva specifically, we recognize women as a primary target demographic for city cars. This directly influences our design process, as women’s perspectives are essential in creating vehicles that are accessible, comfortable and aligned with diverse user needs.
Women professionals are also advancing EV technology by bringing interdisciplinary approaches from other backgrounds which are integral to problem solving at system level.
Q: A common concern in increasing female representation in core automotive and EV technology roles is the skills gap. What initiatives do you think the industry should take to equip more women with the right technical expertise?
Ankita Jain: The low representation of women in automotive and EV technology stems from an educational gap, with only 6% of mechanical engineering students being women versus 36% representation of women in CS program. This educational gap reduces the pool of qualified women candidates for technical roles. To bridge this, the industry must promote early STEM exposure and hands-on workshops to encourage girls to explore technical fields. Awareness training is essential to remove unconscious bias related to gender stereotyping. With new tech-driven roles emerging in automotive, companies should highlight interdisciplinary opportunities to attract women from other backgrounds. As the automotive sector’s GDP contribution triples, aligning compensation and career growth with other high-growth industries will further boost participation.
Mentorship programs and visible female leadership are crucial for retention. Companies must lay down proper career progression path to women employees and showcase women role models to inspire future talent.
Q: What would be your message to young women aspiring to enter the automotive industry, particularly in leadership and innovation roles?
Ankita Jain: The automotive sector is gradually transforming, becoming more inclusive and recognizing the unique perspectives that women bring to technological innovation and mobility solutions.
For young women aspiring to build careers in this automotive industry, the key lies in building robust technical expertise through hands-on projects and internships. Developing strong digital skills, particularly in emerging technologies like simulations and electric vehicle ecosystems, open up new opportunities. Leveraging the plethora of online upskilling programs can help bridge knowledge gaps.
Be prepared to challenge stereotypes constructively and seek mentorship from experienced professionals to expand your network and visibility. Continuous learning and adaptability is critical in navigating and succeeding in today’s dynamic industries.