Suzuki Motor’s Indian unit on Wednesday showcased the eVX, a concept electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) at India’s biennial auto show, with the Japanese automaker’s president saying the car will be launched in 2025.
“I am pleased to unveil the eVX, our first global strategic EV (electric vehicle) concept SUV. We plan to bring it to market by 2025,” said Toshihiro Suzuki, president of Suzuki Motor. He said while addressing an auto show event on the outskirts of capital New Delhi.
According to Maruti Suzuki India ( MRTI.NS ), the mid-size vehicle, known as the ‘eVX’, will be powered by a 60 kWh battery pack that offers a driving range of up to 550 km.
Suzuki Motor has said it will spend more than 104 billion rupees ($1.3 billion) on its electrification push in India, including a battery plant for EVs starting in 2026, making it a global battery and Electric vehicles will make one of the biggest investments.
Maruti faces increasing competition from rivals as buyers push for larger cars such as SUVs and regulators demand safer and greener cars, driving up costs. This has pushed its market share down to 43 percent, down from 50 percent in 2019.
Electrification is also seen as a challenge for the automaker, which wants New Delhi to encourage all cleaner technologies, including hybrids and ethanol, not just EVs.
“We are confident that the deployment of multiple technologies… will help achieve the national target of reducing emissions and oil consumption,” said Hisishi Takeuchi, managing director, Maruti Suzuki India.
India is pushing companies to build more electric cars by offering billions of dollars in incentives, with a lofty target of a 30% market share for electric cars by 2030. Currently, electric cars account for less than 1% of total car sales in India. .
($1 = 81.6020 Indian Rupees)