The e Vitara marks the first electric vehicle from Maruti Suzuki, which is a monumental milestone
In a prominent turn of events, the first EV from the Indo-Japanese carmaker, the Maruti e Vitara, has started going into production. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi commemorated the occasion. The e Vitara was a widely anticipated product for Maruti Suzuki. This is true not just for India, but for global markets as well. It was showcased across many nations a few months ago. Finally, manufacturing in India will also lead to exports. For now, let us take a look at the details of this case.
PM Modi Flags Off Production of First Maruti e Vitara
Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked a key milestone in India’s electric mobility journey with the start of production of Maruti Suzuki’s first battery electric vehicle (BEV), the e-Vitara. The event took place at Suzuki Motor Gujarat Private Limited, a wholly owned unit of Maruti Suzuki India. Alongside this, the Prime Minister also launched local manufacturing of lithium-ion battery cells and electrodes for hybrid electric vehicles. This production has begun at TDS Lithium-Ion Battery Gujarat, a subsidiary of Maruti Suzuki.
The ceremony was attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Japanese Ambassador Keiichi Ono, Suzuki Motor Corporation President Toshihiro Suzuki, Maruti Suzuki Chairman R.C. Bhargava, and Maruti Suzuki MD and CEO Hisashi Takeuchi. Senior government officials and business partners were also present. The e-Vitara marks a shift in India’s EV landscape. Unlike many models imported from advanced markets, this electric SUV is designed and built in India, with exports planned to over 100 countries, including Europe and Japan.
It is expected to be the largest mass-produced electric vehicle from India. The model is based on a dedicated EV platform, not a converted internal combustion vehicle, which helps avoid design compromises. It was earlier showcased in Milan and at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo in New Delhi. Meanwhile, TDSG has become the first company in India to localize lithium-ion battery cells at the electrode level. These batteries will be used in the hybrid version of the Grand Vitara. Together, these steps strengthen India’s push for self-reliance in clean mobility and support the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.
Investment Plans
Suzuki Motor Gujarat (SMG), a Maruti Suzuki subsidiary, began in 2017. The 640-acre site has three plants with a capacity of 750,000 units a year. SMG hit 4 million production in March 2025, the fastest among Suzuki subsidiaries. It builds Baleno, Swift, Fronx and e-VITARA. Total investment is INR 21,077 crore, with INR 32 billion planned for an EV line by FY25-26. TDS Lithium-Ion Battery Gujarat (TDSG) started in 2021 as India’s first cell-level lithium-ion producer. Capacity is 18 million cells a year. It has supplied batteries for one million hybrids. Total investment: INR 4,267 crore. Expansion: 12 million cells annually planned.
Also Read: This Maruti Invicto by DC2 Takes Luxury To The Next Level
