Suzuki Motor will position its India operation as an export hub for electric vehicles as it aims to accelerate the development of such cars globally, Nikkei Asia reported.
As per the report, Suzuki is not only planning to make EVs in India but it will also export those to Japan as early as 2025. It also plans to sell to Europe where demand for EVs is strong.
Suzuki chose India as its first EV production hub because of the huge potential of the domestic market and lower manufacturing costs. Its India subsidiary Maruti Suzuki is the largest automaker in India with about 40% share of the passenger car market.
Beginning in the fall of 2024, Maruti Suzuki plans to build a new electric vehicle (EV) production facility in Gujarat. With this, Suzuki plans to compete with its Chinese counterparts, who are gaining market share in the global EV market by producing cheaply priced cars.
As per the Nikkei Asia report, Suzuki is aiming to make electric kei cars in Japan from 2026. The lightweight minicars are popular for their affordability and ease of use due to their small size.
On September 6, Suzuki Motor Corp had said that it has inked a pact with National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), and Gujarat-based Banas Dairy to set up four biogas plants in Gujarat with an investment of around ₹230 crore.