The Maruti Suzuki compact EV launch will first take place in India
Maruti Suzuki is poised to launch its first compact electric vehicle (EV) in India by fiscal year 2025 and the car is expected to cost just over Rs. 10 lakhs (ex-showroom).
Interestingly, Suzuki Motor has decided that the compact EV will be first launched in India before it goes on sale in Japan and in Europe.
To be made available for 1.5 million yen (Rs. 10.24 lakhs) or less (after government subsidies are taken into account), the electric car’s launch should provide Maruti Suzuki a head start in the EV race.
The carmaker which has around 50 percent of the market share in the country, hopes to maintain its dominance by introducing EVs to its lineup in the coming years.
In order to be able to price its EVs (and hybrids) aggressively, Maruti Suzuki is also building a Lithium-ion battery production plant in India with Denso and Toshiba.
Furthermore, Suzuki has earlier stated that it will invest 1 trillion yen (Rs. 68,000 crores) by March 2026 for research and development of EVs.
Of late, an electric hatchback based on the Wagon R has been caught testing undisguised on Indian roads. It is likely that the car, called the Wagon R EV, could be the firm’s first mass market all-electric vehicle, unless Maruti has something else up its sleeve.
