Brand is trying to address battery supply and software issues that have led to delays.
The launch of Maruti Suzuki’s eVX SUV seems to be delayed by a few months, according to our sister publication Autocar Professional. The brand is currently trying to address multiple battery supply and software challenges that have delayed the start of production (SOP) by at least five months.
- eVX will be manufactured in India and exported
- International and India launch plan now delayed
- Toyota’s version of the eVX will be delayed too
Maruti eVX SUV production, launch details
Sources tell us that the start of production for the Maruti eVX SUV is likely to move from September 2024 to February 2025 at the earliest, which would also push its export to Europe and Japan from end-2024 to next year. This development has come at a time when the overall electric vehicle market is witnessing a slowdown in growth globally. The ramifications of the delay are also likely to be felt by Suzuki, which is banking on the YY8 to make its debut in Europe’s competitive EV market. Maruti Suzuki is a key export base for the YY8 and almost 75-80 percent of the output of 1.5 lakh units planned by the company is allocated for the overseas markets.
This unexpected delay towards the end of the YY8’s development cycle also highlights the challenges of software development in EVs due to the complexity of the electric powertrains, advanced features, and the need for continuous updates and innovation. Sources say that the company wants to enter the EV space with the right preparedness on both the product as well as distribution front, and has hence taken this drastic step of delaying SOP by a few months to ensure that the product launch is glitch free. The company is reportedly likely to retail its EVs from its Nexa outlets. This could potentially mean that the Toyota EV based on the eVX may also witness a change in its launch plan.
Six new Maruti EVs by FY31
Maruti Suzuki has defined a long-term plan of launching six electric vehicles in the country by FY31, and it plans to enter multiple segments, right from hatchbacks to SUVs. The company forecasts that about 15 percent of its total sales by the end of the decade will be electric vehicles.
The SUV is likely to be followed by the YMC MPV and an EV hatchback based on the eWX concept showcased at the Japan Mobility Show in 2023. Maruti Suzuki has often been critiqued for its late entry into the EV space, but the company has taken all these years to localise parts and it wants to make in India for global operations.
Maruti Suzuki is of the opinion that it is entering the EV space at the right time, as the market share for EVs hits 3-5 percent. The company’s EV foray will happen around the same time as Hyundai introduces its Creta EV in the market and Mahindra & Mahindra launches a range of Born Electric Vehicles. An email sent to the company did not elicit any response.
Given the fact that Maruti is working on a large product portfolio of over 24 models with an overburdened R&D department, it has been busier than ever before. A delay of three to six months is expected for some of its ICE models as well. The company has launched six to eight all new models in the last two years and is preparing itself for the launch of the all-new Swift and Dzire in the coming quarters.
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