Putting a stone in India’s bid to emerge as a global manufacturing destination, Suzuki Motor Corporation President Toshihiro Suzuki today said that the company intends to make India a global hub for the production of electric and hybrid vehicles. He said that.
India is already one of Suzuki’s largest production bases for internal combustion engine vehicles, and an important base for exports to markets such as the Middle East and Africa.
“India will become a global production base for Suzuki electric vehicles… India will also become an export base for hybrid vehicles,” said Toshihiro Suzuki, president of Suzuki Motor Corporation, at the Bharat Summit in New Delhi on Thursday. Speaking to the media ahead of the Mobility Show.
On Friday, Suzuki Motors will launch the E-Vitara from the passenger car category and the electric scooter E-Access from the two-wheeler category at the Bharat Mobility Show 2025.
“First we will export this vehicle to Europe and then to Japan. We want to leverage India’s scale and export it to the world…These BEVs represent a global model. , India will become the production hub for these vehicles,” he added.
Although the electric vehicle market is slowing down globally, there is potential for growth in India due to its low base. Mr. Suzuki said, “As you mentioned, the EV market is sluggish globally and sales are sluggish, but I think there is a possibility that EV sales will increase in India.”
He also said that India offers economies of scale that other countries do not have. “For Suzuki, our scale in India is our strength, and we are leveraging this advantage to the fullest to provide high-quality and attractive products to various regions such as Europe, Japan, the Middle East/Africa, Latin America, and Asian countries. We will continue to supply products.”
In calendar year 2024, Maruti Suzuki exported over 3.25 million vehicles, the highest in the company’s history. The company has a long-term plan to export 750,000 units by 2031, more than double its current base.
Maruti Suzuki exports vehicles to over 70 countries. Suzuki said that with the expansion of its portfolio, the company will further expand its footprint in Europe, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia.
The Indian-made Suzuki Fronx is highly rated in Japan as well. He told the media that the model has a three-month backorder and 15,000 units to be ordered.
Suzuki said the company will contribute to the government’s Make in India agenda and aggressively expand its business operations in India.
“We plan to gradually increase our production capacity for four-wheeled vehicles, reaching 4 million units.”
In its vision statement, Suzuki Motor Corporation set out to launch six electric vehicles in India and ship them around the world.
