Suzuki Motor Corporation’s President and Chairman, Toshihiro Suzuki, spoke with the media on the company’s changing Maruti Suzuki EV strategy.
Suzuki Motor Corporation’s President, Representative Director, and Chairman, Toshihiro Suzuki, spoke with the media on the company’s evolving plan for Maruti Suzuki. Despite the recent death of his father and long-time Suzuki patriarch, Osamu Suzuki, the company’s CEO is committed to the brand’s future, which places India at the heart of Suzuki’s global electric vehicle (EV) plan.
India is Suzuki’s global electric vehicle hub
Suzuki Motor Corporation has set an ambitious goal of making India a hub for electric vehicle production, including exports to key markets such as Japan and Europe. This strategy pivot capitalises on Maruti Suzuki’s dominance in the Indian automotive sector, where it has an unparalleled market share.
The e-Vitara mid-size SUV, the company’s first mass-market EV, was introduced last month at the Bharat Mobility Show and will launch in India later this year. It will also serve as the foundation for Toyota’s Urban BEV, which debuted alongside its Suzuki counterpart. Toyota’s alliance demonstrates the growing synergy between the two Japanese behemoths, with similar platforms and technologies delivering cost savings in electrification.
A prudent bet in the face of EV market uncertainty
Suzuki’s EV drive comes as global EV sales decrease, particularly in mature markets like Europe and China. While competitors are cautious, Toshihiro Suzuki is enthusiastic about India’s potential, citing the government’s strong drive for electrification and the country’s changing consumer attitudes.
However, challenges remain, primarily among charging infrastructure and vehicle range. To address these concerns, Maruti Suzuki is expanding its service network to include charging stations, delivering a consistent ownership experience for all EV consumers, NEXA or not. Suzuki will develop battery technology and manufacturing procedures before joining the small EV market.
Beyond EVs: Alternative Green Technology
Interestingly, while EVs dominate the global discourse, Suzuki is expanding its green portfolio beyond pure battery-electric vehicles. The corporation is significantly investing in hybrid and hydrogen-powered solutions to ensure its flexibility in an industry that is still experimenting with various decarbonisation approaches.
Suzuki’s low-cost hybrid systems aim to improve fuel efficiency in small cars, Maruti’s strength, allowing the company to continue catering to price-sensitive consumers. The corporation is also working on hydrogen fuel cells, though its plans for this area are currently unknown.
Suzuki’s Small Car DNA: Can It Evolve?
Despite the debut of the e-Vitara, Toshihiro Suzuki is still committed to Suzuki’s position as a small vehicle expert. Compact vehicles, he says, are great candidates for electrification due to their lightweight design and urban focus. The issue is to make electric vehicles as affordable as petrol-powered ones, which Suzuki intends to do before delivering its first small EV. Meanwhile, popular models such as the Jimny and Swift Sport will continue attracting buyers.
Suzuki’s approach to sustainability is both practical and ambitious, with an emphasis on EVs, hybrids, and hydrogen. If successful, it has the potential to reinforce Maruti Suzuki’s future in India and increase the country’s participation in global electric vehicle production.
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