Maruti Suzuki, the Indian arm of Japanese automaker Suzuki Motor , announced on Wednesday it will manufacture its first electric vehicle (EV) for Toyota Motor at its plant in Gujarat, India, with production set to start in spring 2025. This marks the companies’ first joint effort in electric mobility.
The EV, jointly developed by Suzuki, Toyota, and Daihatsu Motor, will feature a 60-kilowatt-hour battery offering an estimated range of 500 kilometers (311 miles).
The vehicle, planned as a sport utility model, debuted in concept form at India’s auto show last year. “We would like to learn from each other’s strengths, compete, and further joint efforts based on a multi-pathway approach,” Toyota President Koji Sato remarked.
Historically, Suzuki and Toyota have collaborated on combustion engine and hybrid vehicles, but this new EV underscores a shift toward electrification in India, where Suzuki aims to invest over $1 billion to expand its EV footprint. Maruti Suzuki, which currently does not sell EVs domestically, intends to make India an EV hub, supplying Toyota globally, including markets in Japan and Europe.
The EV is part of Toyota’s broader strategy to introduce 10 battery-powered models by 2026, with production limited to the Gujarat facility.
