One of the leading automobile manufacturers in India, Maruti Suzuki, is set to produce its inaugural all-electric vehicle, the eVX SUV.
This announcement was made by a senior company official, marking a significant milestone as Suzuki Motor Corporation’s debut entry into the electric vehicle segment.
The eVX will be manufactured at the Suzuki Motor Gujarat Private Ltd (SMG) plant in Hansalpur, Gujarat, a fully-owned subsidiary of Maruti Suzuki. The manufacturing facility, operational since February 2017, is now gearing up for EV production with an estimated timeline of 2024-2025.
Rahul Bharti, Executive Director of Corporate Affairs at Maruti Suzuki, revealed during a press briefing in Ahmedabad that the Hansalpur plant, which currently houses three production units, will undergo expansion or integration of a new production line to accommodate the manufacturing of the eVX, according to the report by Hindustan Times.
In March 2022, SMG signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Gujarat government, committing an investment of Rs 3,100 crore specifically for electric vehicle manufacturing.
The eVX is poised to make its mark in the compact SUV segment in India, boasting a length exceeding four meters. The electric SUV is equipped with a 60 kWh battery pack, providing a range of approximately 560 km on a full charge.
The SUV’s design was showcased at the Maruti Suzuki Pavilion during Auto Expo 2023 in Delhi earlier this year. The eVX features a futuristic aesthetic with sporty LED headlights, Daytime Running Lights (DRL), connected LED taillights, a closed front grille, and stylish alloy wheels.
Inside, the eVX offers a minimalistic design, highlighted by a sleek dashboard, a large free-standing digital dual-screen serving as both the infotainment system and driver display and a touch-based control-mounted two-spoke steering wheel.
Furthermore, the upcoming Maruti Suzuki eVX is anticipated to compete directly with formidable contenders in the electric vehicle market, including the Tata Harrier EV, Curvv EV and the forthcoming Hyundai Creta EV upon its launch.
The Hansalpur plant recently achieved a significant milestone, producing over 3 million cars since its inception in February 2017. Bharti noted that the last million units were manufactured in just 17 months. The Gujarat plant has an annual production capacity of 750,000 units, contributing substantially to both domestic sales and exports. Bharti revealed that half of Maruti Suzuki’s exported cars have originated from the Hansalpur facility.
