Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated Maruti Suzuki’s new electric vehicle and battery manufacturing plant in Ahmedabad. The facility will produce hybrid battery electrodes, while the company’s first global battery electric vehicle (BEV), the e-Vitara, will be manufactured and exported to over 100 countries, including Japan and several European markets.
Speaking at the event, PM Modi said the foundation of this success was laid 13 years ago with land allotment to Maruti Suzuki, linking it to the ‘Make in India’ vision. He added that EVs made in India will soon be driven around the world. In a post on X earlier, he described the day as a milestone in India’s green mobility journey, highlighting the e-Vitara’s launch and the beginning of domestic battery electrode production at the TDSG plant—a joint venture between Toshiba, Denso, and Suzuki. This move will lead to over 80% of battery value being sourced locally.
Unveiled at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo in January 2025, the e-Vitara begins commercial production today. It offers 49kWh and 61kWh LFP battery options, with FWD and AWD variants. Key features include LED lighting, 18/19-inch wheels, digital displays, sunroof, 360° camera, JBL audio, wireless charging, and ADAS. EVs currently make up about 3% of India’s car sales.