Suzuki Motor Corporation and Toyota Motor Corporation have decided to further strengthen their collaboration, with the supply of a BEV SUV developed by Suzuki to Toyota. The new BEV SUV will be built at the Suzuki Motor plant in Gujarat, India, from the spring of 2025.
The new SUV, likely to be based on the eVX Concept which was showcased at the Auto Expo in 2023, will be the first BEV in the OEM relationship between Suzuki and Toyota, and the SUV will be launched worldwide. The eVX Concept gets a 60kWh battery pack and offers a claimed driving range of 550km, with the dimensions being similar to that of the Hyundai Creta. The new model is designed exclusively as a BEV and will be offered with a 4WD system, though it is unclear what spec we will get it as in India. The BEV unit and platform for this model will be jointly developed by Suzuki, Toyota and Daihatsu Motor Corporation.
Commenting on this occasion, Suzuki president Toshihiro Suzuki said, “Suzuki will supply our first BEV to Toyota globally. I am grateful that the collaboration between the two companies has further deepened in this way. While continuing to be competitors, we will deepen our collaborations toward solving social issues, including the realization of a carbon-neutral society through a multi-pathway approach." Toyota president Koji Sato also commented on the occasion, saying, “By leveraging the BEV unit and platform that we jointly developed, we will take a new step in our collaboration in the field of electrified vehicles. This will allow us to deliver various choices that contribute to a carbon-neutral society to customers worldwide. We would like to learn from each other's strengths, compete, and further joint efforts based on a multi-pathway approach.”
The new eVX-based BEV would go up against rivals like the Hyundai Creta, the Kia Seltos, the Volkswagen Taigun and the Skoda Kushaq in a highly competitive compact SUV segment. However, the choice of an electric powertrain and the combined might of Suzuki and Toyota, along with their massive sales and service networks could give the new BEV model a definite edge over its competitors.