Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked a significant milestone on his two-day visit to Gujarat by flagging off Maruti Suzuki's first electric vehicle, the 'Maruti e Vitara'. At Ahmedabad's Hansalpur plant, he inaugurated local production for hybrid battery electrodes. Today, the production of this electric SUV commences, promising exports to over 100 countries, including Japan and Europe.
PM Modi opened the assembly line for the Maruti e Vitara at Maruti Suzuki's plant, highlighting the shift towards local production that aims to cater to international markets. The joint venture between Toshiba, Denso, and Suzuki at the TDS Lithium-Ion Battery Plant has initiated the local production of hybrid battery electrodes.
Source: aajtak
With more than 80% of battery production being localized, India's push towards clean energy and manufacturing goals gets a major boost. As India strengthens its hold in the electric vehicle sector, the TDS Lithium-Ion Battery Plant in Gujarat emerges as a key player in reaching these targets.
Maruti Suzuki has set an ambitious target of producing 67,000 EVs by the fiscal year 2026, a significant portion of which will be exported, enhancing 'Made in India' products on a global scale.
The Suzuki Motor Gujarat (SMG) plant at Hansalpur spans approximately 640 acres and boasts an annual production capacity of around 750,000 units. With the new assembly line, this capacity is poised to increase significantly. Acquired recently from Suzuki Motor Corp, the plant aims to double production capacity to 4 million cars by the decade's end.
Inaugurated in March 2014 to meet both domestic and export demands, the Hansalpur plant initially rolled out the Maruti Suzuki Baleno, followed by the next-generation Maruti Suzuki Swift hatchback in 2018.
Now, the 'Maruti e Vitara,' Maruti's first electric car, will be produced here, slated for exports to numerous international markets. Bikes and cars have already been exported to Europe, Africa, and Japan from this strategically located plant near Mundra Port.
Maruti Suzuki currently operates three plants, producing approximately 2.35 million cars annually. Two located in Haryana (Gurugram and Manesar) and one in Gujarat. Recently, production has begun at their new Greenfield plant in Kharkhoda, Haryana, with a capacity of 250,000 units annually. Additionally, plans for another Greenfield plant in Gujarat are underway.
The new Maruti E-Vitara showcases design cues reminiscent of the Maruti eVX concept shown last year, albeit with some sharper angles toned down. Featuring tri-slash LED daytime running lights, charging ports at the front edges, and curved rear wheel arches, its rear door handles are trendily integrated into the C-Pillar.
Source: aajtak
This Maruti e Vitara, fitted with 18-inch alloy wheels, measures 4,275 mm in length, 1,800 mm in width, and 1,635 mm in height. Offering a 2,700 mm wheelbase, longer than the Creta, it facilitates better battery pack installation. Its 180 mm ground clearance is suited for most Indian roads, with a weight ranging from 1,702 kg to 1,899 kg, depending on the variant.
Equipped with a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack, the SUV is available with two battery configurations (49kWh and 61kWh). The larger battery pack features a dual-motor all-wheel-drive (AWD) setup, known as 'All Grip-E', with claims of over 500 km range per charge.
Electric Hyundai Creta poses a major challenge, offering two battery pack choices—42kWh and 51.4kWh—yielding ranges of 390 km and 473 km per ARAI certifications. Priced between INR 17.99 lakh and INR 24.38 lakh, the Maruti E Vitara will also compete against Tata Nexon EV and MG Windsor.
