Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) aims to strengthen its UV (Utility Vehicle) product portfolio in coming years. The Indo-Japanese automaker will also foray into the hybrid and electric vehicle (EV) segments. Kenichi Ayukawa, Managing Director & CEO, MSI, has revealed that the joint venture between Suzuki Motor Corporation and Toyota Motor Corporation will help the company gain access to hybrid technology.
In order to reduce lithium import and promote electrification, Suzuki Motor Coporation under its partnership with Toshiba Corporation and Denso Corporation is setting up the first lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility with cell level localization in the country. Maruti Suzuki India’s model lineup has the least CO2 emission per vehicle than other car manufacturers as measured by the CAFÉ regulation.
If reports are to be believed, the company is planning to introduce the stronger 48V hybrid technology to its product lineup. The new-generation Maruti Vitara Brezza could be the first model to receive new hybrid tech, followed by the new S-Cross crossover. The Indo-Japanese carmaker is planning to bring in its first mass market all-electric car by fiscal year 2025. Its first EV will be based on the WagonR hatchback, which is reported to cost around Rs 10 lakh.
In near future, Maruti Suzuki will launch three new SUVs including the new-generation Vitara Brezza, 5-door Jimny and a mid-size SUV developed with Toyota. The upcoming Maruti compact SUV could be based on Toyota’s low-cost DNGA (Daihatsu New Generation Architecture) platform that also underpins Daihatsu Rocky and Toyota Raize. Here, it will be placed against the cars like Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, and the newly-launched Skoda Kushaq. The upcoming MG Astor and Volkswagen Taigun will also give a tough fight to the new Maruti mid-size SUV.
Rumour has it that the company is also working on a Baleno-based compact crossover that might hit roads sometime next year. Maruti Suzuki is reported to enter into the 7-seater SUV space with the global-spec Vitara based model. For more details on the upcoming Maruti Suzuki cars, stay tuned to IndiaCarNews.
