“We want to take back 50 per cent market share”
Says Toshihiro Suzuki, president, Suzuki Motor Corporation as he discusses the Suzuki e Vitara, Maruti Suzuki’s EV journey, and hints at the future saying, “It is appropriate to have EV with small cars”;
The Suzuki e Vitara mid-size electric SUV and eAccess electric scooter are set to be unveiled at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 that will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Jan 17. Prior to the Auto Expo, Toshihiro Suzuki, representative director and president of Suzuki Motor Corporation, shares his thoughts on Suzuki’s first ever mass market electric car and electric scooter, Maruti Suzuki’s journey towards electrification and drop hints at the next electric car to come.
On getting back to 50 per cent market share in India
Toshihiro Suzuki doubles down on Suzuki’s famed independence. “I would like to have Suzuki Motor Corporation and Maruti Suzuki as independent companies and holding each others hands tightly and take back 50 per cent market share.” And the way Suzuki will go about that is to, “Acquire top market share,” in the SUV market. “It is imperative to launch more SUVs,” says Suzuki but that will not be at the expense of hatchbacks and sedans. “We like to ensure sedans and hatch grown further.”
On electrification targets
“Internally we have some thoughts but finally it will be decided by customers,” says Toshihiro Suzuki while declining to reveal firm targets for EV market share. “We are not only emphasizing on EVs but we are working towards reducing CO2 via a multi-pathway strategy.” That means hybrid, CNG, electric and now hydrogen has also been added to the fuel mix, “To meet customer expectations.”
On the Toyota Suzuki partnership
“Toyota is our competition and our partner,” says T Suzuki. “If there are technical inadequacies we seek each other's help. There is healthy competition but we continue to operate independently.”
On smaller electric cars
“It is appropriate to have EV with small cars,” says T Suzuki clearly hinting at the next segments Maruti Suzuki will electrify. “We would like to study electrification through e Vitara and then have it in a appropriate smaller or compact vehicle.”
“Range will be slightly lesser but we will ensure it can be used.”
On the electric scooter eAccess
“If the daily running is 20-30km then the EV is appropriate. In case of the bigger vehicles [motorcycles] because they are used for the hobby purpose, doing the electrification of the bigger bikes is for the future.”
On the Jimny
“We would like to keep launching products [like Jimny] and check response. In the world there are areas where they cannot live without a vehicle like the Jimny. We would like to target those customers for this kind of product and put in our best efforts for these products.”
On electric light commercial vehicles
“[It is] not correct to do EV of commercial vehicles. We thought about it through Kei-truck of Japan where 2 people can sit and has load capacity of 350kg. With 30 liters of petrol it can run 400-500km. In case we do electrification of this vehicle and if it has tor run for 300-400km one has to put a battery of 400kg. Then the driver can be there and the battery can be there, that’s all [negating load carrying capacity]. Right product has to be used in the right place.
Suzuki e Vitara will be exported to Japan
India is going to be the global manufacturing hub for the Suzuki e Vitara. T Suzuki says, “e Vitara will also be exported to Japan”. The Fronx is already being exported to Japan and Suzuki says, “There are 15,000 advance orders which is three times the target monthly sales.”