Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL) is poised to make a bold entry into the electric vehicle market with the launch of a high-performance EV, offering a range of 500 kms, powered by a robust 60 kWh battery.
At the 64th annual session of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Maruti Suzuki's Managing Director and CEO, Hisashi Takeuchi, presented a forward-looking vision centred around clean energy technologies and sustainable mobility. While talking on the topic: Achieving Global Leadership in Sustainable Mobility, Takeuchi said, the company's approach encompasses a wide array of technologies and strategies aimed at combating carbon emissions and reducing oil consumption, with electric vehicles (EVs) leading the charge.
'We will have multiple such products soon,' Takeuchi stated adding that in order to ensure customer trust, the automaker plans to export these EVs to international markets, including Europe and Japan, while offering extensive after-sales support. This strategy aims to address concerns surrounding EV ownership and provide a seamless experience, using the strength of Maruti's extensive service network. 'Our exports from India today are three times of what we had four years ago; and it will be three times of today in about six years,' he mentioned.
However, Maruti Suzuki’s clean energy efforts go beyond just electric vehicles. The company is actively exploring alternative powertrain options, such as hydrogen, strong hybrids, and biofuels, to further reduce oil consumption and CO2 emissions. Biofuels, in particular, hold immense promise for India. 'India is sitting on an enormous treasure of natural resources,' Takeuchi highlighted, referring to the country’s abundant agricultural and animal resources that generate biomass, which can be converted into biofuels. These biofuels not only have a low carbon footprint but can often be carbon-negative, making them a key part of the clean energy equation.
While many nations have already harnessed the power of biofuels, Takeuchi believes India can soon become the global leader in this area, with other countries looking to India for innovation and inspiration.
In addition to biofuels, India’s natural abundance of solar and wind energy positions the country to become a major producer of renewable energy. Takeuchi emphasised the importance of tailoring solutions specifically for India, recognising that a one-size-fits-all approach borrowed from other countries may not be suitable. 'India should do original thinking on what suits our country best,' he said, urging policymakers and industry leaders to focus on what works for India's unique context. “My personal dream is to provide the joy of mobility to as many people as possible with a joyful society,” he added.
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