In an interview with TimesTech, Sriram Kannan – Founder & CEO, Routematic shares insights with on how CAFE III norms are reshaping enterprise mobility in India. He highlights the growing role of EV adoption, intelligent routing, and data-driven fleet optimization in enhancing efficiency, reducing emissions, and enabling large enterprises to align sustainability with operational performance at scale.
Read the full interview here: TimesTech: CAFE III shifts the focus from individual vehicles to overall fleet emissions. How do you see this redefining corporate mobility strategies in India, particularly for large enterprises managing employee transportation at scale? Sriram: CAFE III marks a significant shift from regulating individual vehicles to evaluating emissions at a fleet level, something that aligns closely with how large enterprises already operate their mobility ecosystems. Companies who manage transportation that a high scale, this essentially transforms mobility into a strategic lever instead of only an operational requisite.
For Routematic, this will drive companies to rethink the fleet configuration, increase electric automobiles adoption and invest in smart routing and utilization technologies. The attention will shift to optimizing every ride with data-driven insight, lowering idle miles and extending occupancy. In several manner, CAFE III will help catalyse a more tech-led and integrated method for corporate mobility, to create a world where employee experience, efficiency and sustainability do not require to compete anymore for priorities but will become interconnected results.
TimesTech: With EVs now being evaluated on lifecycle efficiency rather than just zero tailpipe emissions, what operational challenges and opportunities does this create for corporate mobility platforms like Routematic? Sriram: When we look at EVs through a lifecycle lens, it introduces both accountability and realism. It’s no longer enough to label a vehicle as “clean” simply because it has zero tailpipe emissions—enterprises are now evaluated on the full picture, from battery sourcing to fleet deployment and the supporting charging infrastructure.
This add as a level of operational complication managing charging schedules, avoiding downtime, and ensuring vehicles are deployed efficiently become critical. There’s also the need to work closely with ecosystem partners—OEMs, charging providers, and fleet operators—to make sure the transition is practical, not just aspirational.
At the same time, by leveraging data effectively and applying smart routing intelligence, EV fleets can operate much more efficiently optimizing trip distances, aligning routes with charging availability, and maximizing overall utilization. Over time, this not only reduces costs but also makes sustainability goals more measurable and credible.
In many ways, this shift pushes companies to move beyond intent and focus on execution—where the real impact lies.
TimesTech: CAFE III is expected to increase cost pressures on ICE fleets. How will this accelerate the transition toward electrification in high-usage segments such as corporate transport and employee mobility? Sriram: CAFE III will inevitably make running large ICE fleets more expensive, especially for high-usage segments like corporate transport where vehicles are on the road for long hours every day. When fuel costs, compliance requirements, and efficiency benchmarks tighten together, the economics of traditional fleets start to become harder to justify.
For enterprises, this creates a clear tipping point. Electrification is no longer just a sustainability decision; it begins to make stronger business sense. In high-utilization environments like employee mobility, EVs can offer more predictable operating costs and better long-term savings, provided the ecosystem is planned well.
From a platform standpoint, this shift will likely happen faster in structured, repeat-use cases such as corporate transport. These are controlled environments where routes, distances, and schedules are known, making it easier to integrate EVs, plan charging, and optimize usage. At the same time, it will require closer coordination across fleet partners, charging infrastructure, and technology platforms to ensure reliability at scale.
CAFE III nudges companies to move from pilots and intent to actual, large-scale adoption of electric mobility, especially in segments where the business case is already beginning to align.
TimesTech: Routematic operates at the intersection of AI, fleet optimisation, and sustainability. How can data-driven insights and intelligent routing significantly improve fleet efficiency and help enterprises stay compliant under the new norms? Sriram: At Routematic, we see data as the backbone of smarter, more efficient mobility. When you’re managing large fleets, small inefficiencies, extra kilometres, idle time, suboptimal routing, quickly add up to higher costs and emissions. With tighter norms coming in, these are no longer things operators can afford to overlook.
By using data to understand travel patterns, demand peaks, and route behaviour, fleets can be planned far more precisely. Intelligent routing helps reduce empty runs, optimise vehicle utilisation, and ensure that each trip is as efficient as possible. Over time, this directly lowers fuel consumption, cuts emissions, and improves overall cost efficiency.
It also brings much-needed visibility. Enterprises can track performance in real time, measure how their fleets are operating against regulatory requirements, and make quicker adjustments when needed. This becomes especially important as compliance moves from being a one-time checkbox to an ongoing responsibility.
In our experience, the real value lies in consistency. When routing, scheduling, and fleet deployment are driven by data rather than assumptions, the gains are not just immediate but sustained, helping enterprises stay efficient, compliant, and better prepared for the shift toward cleaner mobility.
TimesTech: The rise of Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) is being seen as a key outcome of CAFE III. How do you see enterprise adoption of managed mobility solutions evolving over the next 3–5 years? Sriram: Over the next 3–5 years, enterprise mobility will move steadily toward managed, service-led models rather than owned or fragmented fleet operations. CAFE III is pushing companies to look beyond short-term fixes and focus on long-term efficiency, compliance, and sustainability, areas where Mobility-as-a-Service fits naturally.
We expect adoption to deepen first among large enterprises with high, predictable demand, such as employee transport. Instead of managing multiple vendors or maintaining in-house fleets, companies will prefer integrated platforms that handle everything, from routing and fleet mix to compliance tracking and reporting. This reduces operational complexity while giving better control over costs and performance.
There will also be a clear shift toward flexible, demand-based models. Enterprises won’t want to lock themselves into fixed capacities; they’ll look for solutions that can scale up or down based on workforce patterns, hybrid work, and location dynamics. Managed mobility providers will play a bigger role in orchestrating this flexibility.
At the same time, sustainability will become a stronger decision driver. As EV adoption grows, enterprises will rely on MaaS partners to manage the transition, whether it’s integrating electric vehicles, optimising their deployment, or ensuring charging readiness without disrupting operations.
In essence, MaaS will evolve from being a convenience-driven offering to a strategic layer in enterprise operations—helping companies stay compliant, control costs, and align mobility with their broader sustainability goals.
TimesTech: Shared corporate transport is often highlighted as a powerful lever for reducing emissions. What role will higher seat utilisation and smarter fleet deployment play in achieving sustainability targets under CAFE III? Sriram: The biggest lever here is simple, move more people with fewer vehicles. Higher seat utilisation means fewer trips, lower fuel consumption, and a smaller overall carbon footprint.
In practice, this comes down to planning and consistency. When routes are designed to maximise occupancy and reduce empty seats, the gains are immediate. Even a small improvement in seat fill rates can significantly cut down the number of vehicles required on the road, especially in large-scale employee transport programs.
Smarter fleet deployment adds another layer to this. Not every route needs the same type of vehicle at all times. Aligning vehicle size and type with actual demand—whether it’s deploying smaller vehicles on low-density routes or optimising trip timing—helps avoid unnecessary fuel burn and reduces operational waste.
At Routematic, we’ve seen that when utilisation and deployment are managed well, sustainability outcomes follow naturally. It’s not just about switching to cleaner vehicles, but about using every vehicle more efficiently. Under tighter norms like CAFE III, this approach will be key for enterprises looking to reduce emissions without compromising on reliability or employee experience.
