Maruti Suzuki plans 25,000 EV charging stations before launching the eVX SUV, leveraging its extensive service network across India.
Before the arrival of the Concept eVX, a mid-size SUV that will be Maruti’s first foray into the EV market, Maruti Suzuki India Limited is set to install about 25,000 EV charging points, a media report states. The automaker also plans to tap its network of over 5100 touchpoints across 2300 cities. To support this effort, Maruti Suzuki is currently in talks with oil marketing companies and energy companies to set up a strong charging network, which has been a major barrier for the adoption of electric vehicles in India.
Dealer Workshops and Strategic Alliances
To this end, Maruti Suzuki has started conducting a pilot study of its dealer workshops to find out various charger installation possibilities. Currently, the company aims to assign one service bay to the implementation of the solution and equip each of the service centers with two charging stations. To guarantee adequate after sales service to customers, training for all service mechanics has already begun in Bengaluru. Maruti Suzuki has also sought space from the oil marketing companies for EV charging and service stations at their marketing outlets.
Leadership Commitment and Market Strategy
Maruti Suzuki’s Managing Director Hisashi Takeuchi has recently stressed on the company’s intentions to allay customer pain points regarding EV ownership. Stressing this point during his speech at the 64th Annual Convention of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), he said, “We will leverage the strength of the network to assure customers for after sale support. ”
The eVX and Maruti’s EV Roadmap
The ‘Concept eVX’, which costs between ₹20-25 lakh, should achieve sales of 3,000 units in the first three months of its release. It will be Produced in the Maruti Gujarat Plant and marketed through Nexa Showrooms. This SUV is the first of six electric vehicles Maruti Suzuki plans to make in the next 6-7 years. Maruti has said it wants to challenge market leaders such as Tata Motors in terms of domestic EV sales even though the market is still in its infancy in India; while costs associated with EVs such as charging stations remain high.
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