Maruti Suzuki has confirmed that its first electric car (electric vehicle – EV) will hit roads sometime in 2025. The model will enter into production from 2024-25 and it will be manufactured at the company’s Gujarat based facility. The Indo-Japanese automaker plans to expand its production facilities in coming years. It will setup two new manufacturing plants at IMT Kharkhoda in Sonipat, Haryana with an investment of Rs 11,000 crore in the first phase. While the first unit will be established in 2025, the second one will come a year later.
The company hasn’t yet revealed details of its first EV. Though, it has confirmed that the first Maruti electric car will be priced above Rs 10 lakh as EV technology and batteries are expensive. Maruti Suzuki has confirmed that its new EV has been on test long enough that will meet market-specific requirements and adapt to Indian weather conditions.
Rumour has it that the first Maruti electric car will be a mid-size SUV that will be co-developed by Suzuki and Toyota. The model might make its first appearance in its concept form at the 2023 Auto Expo. The EV will be designed on Toyota’s heavily localized DNGA modular platform that supports electric powertrains. It could be made available with two battery options – 48kWh and 59kWh. While the former will deliver a range around 400km, the latter one will promise 500km.
The first Maruti electric car is reported to be electric iteration of the Grand Vitara that’s due for September, 2022. The SUV will be the first Maruti Suzuki model to come with strong hybrid powertrain. It will be offered with the 1.5L TNGA petrol with Intelligent Hybrid tech and 1.5L K15C Dualjet with Smart Hybrid system options. The Maruti Grand Vitara SUV model lineup will be spread across four trims (Sigma, Delta, Zeta and Alpha) and its expected to cost between Rs 9.50 lakh – Rs 15.50 lakh (all, ex-showroom).
