Why did India’s favourite carmaker delay the launch of their first electric vehicle in India, the Maruti Suzuki WagonR electric? We now have the answer…
An electric vehicle is definitely the mobility solution for the future. India seems to have begun its journey towards the electric future with various carmakers already bringing in their EV models. However, India’s favourite carmaker Maruti Suzuki India Limited has apparently chosen to hold themselves back from bringing in EVs.
“Why is Maruti Suzuki not launching any electric vehicle in India?”
Before you could utter this question another time, Maruti Suzuki chairman RC Bhargava has the carmaker’s official statement for you! Bhargava has now explained as to why MSIL had recently dropped the ‘Maruti Suzuki WagonR EV’ plans for 2020.
Bhargava told the Mint. that it would take India another 2-4 years for having the essential EV ecosystem up and functioning and e-mobility taken into full swing. The infrastructure out here demands significant improvement.
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The phrase ‘infrastructure improvement’ could mean anything from building good roads to constructing charging stations and setting up infrastructures for the effective production and transmission of power for EVs. Bhargava also expressed his concerns on the affordability of electric vehicles in the country.
This could be pitched against the previous statement by MSIL Senior executive director (engineering), CV Raman, blaming the nominal popularity of EVs in India on their cost and the lack of charging stations. I am sure you would then be able to decipher why Maruti Suzuki is trying to be blind to the EV revolution, in a better way.
Maruti Suzuki WagonR electric, the carmaker’s first EV in India, was scheduled to hit the market in September 2020. But a recent announcement from the brand, in October 2019 to be precise, had revealed that they had pushed it further ahead to 2021.
While India’s favourite car brand has decided to stay back, the EV arena sees no lag in spooling up. Many big players have already brought in their EV models or are about to do so. We have the Hyundai Kona rapidly gaining sales momentum here. The recently launched Tata Tigor EV is also picking it up but in calm. Tata Motors has multiple plans for EVs ahead. They are hoped to bring in the Tata Nexon EV with mouthwatering range figures and there might soon be a Tata Altroz EV as well!
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Post the grand success of MG Hector, Morris Garages is about to launch their second model, which essentially is an electric vehicle dubbed MG ZS EV. Thus the game is getting stronger and more fierce.
However, Maruti Suzuki is not the only carmaker who has chosen to stay back. Recently BMW and Mercedes Benz also had issued statements of them bunking India’s EV market. Volkswagen too has no EV plans for the immediate future. The VW boss told us the same when we had had a talk with him sometime back.
So, What are your thoughts on the current EV scenario in India? Let us know through the comments…
