Maruti Suzuki’s first Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), the e-Vitara, was officially launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Hansalpur, Gujarat, on 28 August. The EV, which is manufactured in India and will be sold to more than 100 nations, represents India’s expanding aspirations for self-reliance and green mobility. The launch boosted India’s EV battery ecosystem at the same time that a new plant in Hansalpur began producing hybrid battery electrodes.

PM Modi celebrated the day as a turning point in India’s development into a sustainable transport powerhouse. The e-Vitara is Maruti Suzuki’s first electric vehicle and the company’s first global push in the electric market. It was first displayed at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo in New Delhi earlier this year.Both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) versions of the e-Vitara’s 49 kWh and 61 kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery options are available, providing versatility for a range of applications. Sharp LED headlights and DRLs, 18/19-inch alloy wheels, a fully digital instrument cluster, touchscreen infotainment, a wireless charger, a 360-degree camera, a panoramic sunroof, JBL premium audio, and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) are all features of the SUV.

Since just around 3% of Indian automobile sales are currently electric, the e-Vitara is anticipated to boost domestic acceptance while establishing India as Suzuki’s worldwide EV production hub, with exports to more than 100 nations, including Europe and Japan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to the crowd after launching Maruti Suzuki’s e-Vitara.

“A new chapter in the Make in India yatra is being added on the occasion of Ganesh Utsav,” he remarked. “Made in India, Made for the World” is a significant step forward in that process. “The Indian government is also aware of the shortage of rare earth manganese for the auto industry,” he continued, discussing the country’s manufacturing of rare earth elements.

“We also launched the National Critical Mineral Mission to boost industrial capacity in this approach. As a result, more exploration missions will be carried out around the nation, and vital minerals will be found.” A lithium-ion battery manufacturing plant established by Suzuki, Toshiba, and Denso to boost the production of batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles was also opened by the PM in an effort to further promote EVs.