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Insights from the Field

“The biggest challenge for women in production is the standing nature of work. But if we employ women for inspection, they give better results than men.”

— Male Supervisor, Auto Component Manufacturing

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Insights from the Field

“Wherever I go, I feel safe in the office. While boarding the cab or getting down. Even if the place is full of boys, they make way for us.”

— Woman on the Shopfloor

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Insights from the Field

“Women employees are more methodical, more systematic in their approach. That’s why they’re preferred in design activities.”

— Manager, OEM

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Explore the current state of women’s participation in the auto sector, barriers to their recruitment and growth, and evidence-based strategies to build gender-inclusive workplaces.

Unlocking Gender Inclusion in India’s Automotive Industry

Unlocking Gender Inclusion in India’s Automotive Industry

Explore the current state of women’s participation in the auto sector, barriers to their recruitment and growth, and evidence-based strategies to build gender-inclusive workplaces.

What the Gender Inclusion Framework Reveals

What the Gender Inclusion Framework Reveals

The Current State

The Current State

  • Women make up only 5.6% of India’s automotive workforce.

 

  • Less than 3% of CXO positions in top automotive companies are held by women.

 

  • The sector has significant wage gaps, with women earning ₹70 for every ₹100 earned by men.

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  • Gender stereotypes, lack of safety infrastructure, and limited awareness keep many women out of automotive jobs.

The Opportunity

The Opportunity

  • Firms with more women leaders tend to outperform peers with up to 34% higher profits., according to a Fortune 500 study.

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  • Frontline women workers tend to stay 6–13% longer than men, per GBL's research in Latin America.

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  • Women leaders and workers are linked to stronger conflict resolution and agility — traits that may help firms navigate production stress.

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  • The rise of EV manufacturing presents a unique opportunity to build more inclusive shopfloors from the ground up.

Inside the Report: A Framework for Gender Inclusion

The Gender Inclusion Framework translates extensive field insights and evidence into a practical roadmap for firms seeking to improve women’s participation across the employment lifecycle.

Attraction & Recruitment

Most recruitment channels default to male candidates. The framework highlights solutions like gender-neutral job ads, targeted rural outreach, contractor training, and family engagement to build trust. Targeted recruitment drives saw 41% conversion vs 4% for traditional outreach.

Pre & Onboarding

Early engagement can be crucial in male-dominated workplaces. Peer connections, inclusive orientation, clear trainee-to-permanent pathways, and visible safety measures may help new women recruits feel supported and confident from day one.

Work Culture & Retention

Retention depends on creating safe, gender-responsive environments — secure transport, childcare, ergonomic equipment, and anonymous grievance redressal can reduce attrition by up to 19%. Open feedback channels and rights awareness programs help sustain inclusion over time.

Leadership & Growth

Women remain concentrated in shopfloor roles, with limited pathways upward. Transparent promotion processes, mentorship, and intermediary leadership roles (e.g., Assistant Supervisor) can help women advance. Leadership diversity builds role models and trust on the shopfloor.

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