Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday commemorated the start of production of the first BEV from the Maruti Suzuki stable, for sale in more than 100 countries.
The first batch of e Vitara, the made in India battery electric vehicle (BEV) from Maruti Suzuki’s Gujarat plant, will be exported to the European market this month, the automaker said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday commemorated the start of production of the first BEV from the Maruti Suzuki stable, for sale in more than 100 countries, including the U.K. and Japan, at Suzuki Motor Gujarat Private Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Maruti Suzuki India Ltd.
The Prime Minister also commemorated the start of local manufacturing of the first lithium-ion battery, cell and electrode for strong hybrid electric vehicles at TDS Lithium-Ion Battery Gujarat Private Ltd. (TDSG), a fellow subsidiary of Maruti Suzuki.
The e Vitara is slated to be the largest mass-produced and exported electric vehicle from India that will also be sold in the Indian market.
TDSG has become the first company in India to achieve electrode level localisation of lithium-ion battery cells, making India self- reliant in battery manufacturing for hybrid EVs, the company said.
This electrode level (cathode + anode) localisation is a step towards increasing proliferation of hybrid electric vehicles in the country. These lithium-ion batteries go into the hybrid system of the popular SUV model, the Grand Vitara, it added.
Toshihiro Suzuki, Representative Director and President, Suzuki Motor Corporation said, “These milestones are also a testimony to the enduring Indo-Japanese partnership, built on mutual trust and a shared vision for progress and a carbon neutral future..”
“We will provide all products and technologies that will reduce oil consumption and imports and carbon emissions like battery electric vehicles, strong hybrid electric vehicles and vehicles powered by natural gas and biofuels,” he added.
He said the Gujarat facility, serving customers across India and global markets, would shortly become one of the world’s largest automobile manufacturing hubs, with a planned capacity of one million units.
”We chose this facility to manufacture the e Vitara our first BEV and make it as global production hub for this model. We will export this Made-in-India BEV to over 100 countries, including Japan and Europe,” he said.
He said the start of production of India’s 1st lithium-ion battery and cell with electrode- level localisation, which are used in our hybrid vehicles are being manufactured with only raw material and some semi-conductor parts coming from Japan.
“We will use a multi-powertrain strategy including electric, strong hybrid, ethanol flex fuel, and compressed biogas, to achieve carbon neutrality and climate change goals,” M.r Suzuki said. He said Suzuki Motor would invest more than ₹70,000 crore in India over the next 5 to 6 years. “We remain committed to supporting India’s vision for sustainable green mobility,” he said. Suzuki Group has invested over ₹1,00,000 crore in India. These investments have also led to the creation of over 11,00,000 direct jobs in the value chain, the company said.
(The writer was at the Gujarat factory of Maruti Suzuki at the invitation of the company)
Published – August 26, 2025 10:39 pm IST
