Suzuki Motor Corporation has launched its first Made-in-India global strategic battery electric vehicle, the e VITARA, and commenced local manufacturing of hybrid battery electrodes at its plant in Hansalpur, Gujarat. Electric vehicles produced in India will now be exported to over 100 countries, including markets in Europe and Japan.
The hybrid battery electrode manufacturing initiative has been set up at the TDS Lithium-Ion Battery plant in Gujarat, a joint venture between Toshiba, Denso and Suzuki. According to the company, the localisation of electrodes will ensure that more than 80 percent of the battery value is manufactured in India.
Suzuki has also begun developing hybrid e-ambulances as part of a pilot project. The prototype was created within six months, and the initiative is linked to the government’s e-ambulance programme under the PM E-DRIVE scheme, which has a budget of INR 110 billion.
The company noted that the new localisation efforts in the EV supply chain are expected to strengthen its electric mobility portfolio and accelerate the development of hybrid vehicles.
Suzuki Motor Corporation is a Japan-based multinational manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles, and outboard motors. Its Indian subsidiary, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, is one of the country’s largest car manufacturers and exporters, with facilities in Haryana and Gujarat.