The electric mobility segment is getting a lot of momentum, and with mainstream brands like Tata Motors, Mahindra, Hyundai and MG launching new electric vehicles, the question in everyone's mind is, what is Maruti Suzuki doing? While rivals have been boasting about growing EV sales, the country's largest carmaker is working on launching more CNG models, and simultaneously looking into flex-fuel engines. However, the company does plan to launch an electric vehicle in India, and speaking to the media during the recent financial results announcements, RC Bhargava, Chairman, Maruti Suzuki India said that the company will bring in its first EV by 2025.
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Talking about the company's plan to launch an EV in India, Bhargava said that the launch date of the company's first electric vehicle has to be decided by the parent company Suzuki, in Japan. However, he did say that the company will introduce an electric vehicle by 2025. Talking about the company's stand on electric vehicles, the Chairman of the Indo-Japanese car manufacture said, "Having volumes of a few 1000s is very good, but they leave us unexcited. We will not be happy if we sell 1000 cars in a month, we have gone to much higher volumes." He further added, "If I start to sell EVs, I would like to sell around 10,000 cars in a month"
RC Bhargava, Chairman, Maruti Suzuki India says that if he begins to sell EVs, he's would like to sell around 10,000 cars a month
RC Bhargava says that there has to be a greater demand in the market for electric vehicles. Right now, the company sees no point in selling less than one lakh electric vehicles a year, when its total volumes are over 2 million cars for a normal year.
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On the other hand, the company is looking into alternative fuel options, as petrol and diesel prices have been increasing every day. And the company's focus is on CNGs. Currently, Maruti Suzuki India has the largest portfolio of CNG cars in the country, however, with increasing demand, the company is planning to expand it further. In fact, Bhargava said that CNG models are currently witnessing some of the longest waiting periods, whereas a model like the Alto petrol has no waiting period right now.
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Maruti Suzuki says that CNG models are currently witnessing some of the longest waiting periods, whereas a model like the Alto petrol has no waiting period right now.
Simultaneously, the company says that it's also looking into flex-fuel technology as well. However, the company says that there has to be a demand for such technology before it decides to develop a product. Having said that, recently, Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, said that his ministry will release the order mandating all vehicle manufacturers to power vehicles with flex engines (that can run on more than one fuel), in the next 3-4 months.
When asked about hybrid vehicles, Bhargava said that compared to even though Internal Combustions Engines (ICE), hybrids have a strong advantage, as they offer 30-45 per cent energy efficiency and CO2 reduction, and there is no need to scale up charging infrastructure.
