Maruti Suzuki is gearing up to foray into the EV (electric vehicle) market in the next couple of years. According to a fresh media report, it will be a mid-size SUV (codenamed – Maruti YY8) that will make its debut in its concept avatar at the 2023 Delhi Auto Expo in January. Its production ready version will arrive in January or February 2025. The first Maruti electric SUV will be co-developed with Toyota and will be produced at the company’s Gujarat based plant for the domestic and export markets.
In terms of pricing, the new Maruti electric SUV will positioned against Tata Nexon EV that’s currently available within the price range of Rs 14.99 lakh – Rs 17.50 lakh (all, ex-showroom). The report suggests that the YY8 will be priced somewhere between Rs 13 lakh – Rs 15 lakh. Interestingly, it will be as big as the Hyundai Creta (4300mm in length) and have longer wheelbase than the MG ZS EV (2585mm). The Maruti YY8 will sit on a 2700mm long wheelbase.
The new Maruti electric SUV will underpin the 27PL platform that’s compatible to accommodate a large battery pack and create more cabin space. The architecture is essentially derivative of Toyota’s 40PL global platform. The model is likely to carry an all-new, futuristic design language and have short overhangs with the wheels pushed to the edges. Read – Maruti Suzuki To Launch 3 New Cars With Strong Hybrid Engines
Official details of the upcoming new Maruti electric car are still under the wraps. Though, it’s likely to come with two battery pack options – a 48kWh and a 59kWh – promising range of around 400km and 500km respectively. Its power figures could be around 138bhp and 170bhp. The Indo-Japanese automaker will use the LFP blade cell batteries for its new EV that will be sourced from the Chinese battery supplier BYD. The Maruti YY8 will be made available with the 2WD and AWD drivetrain options. As of now, there is no clarity whether the AWD version will come to India or not.
