Maruti Suzuki e-Vitara vs Mahindra XEV 9S: Is Maruti late to EV party?
With a brand that has now been in the country for 42 years, it was expected that Maruti Suzuki would jump on the EV bandwagon quicker, but they came into the market after their rivals have established themselves well.
New Delhi: It was in 1983 that Maruti Suzuki gave India its first proper car ever, and for common people, it was the first shot at luxury and a step up into the world of mobility. When the first proper electric cars came into existence and did well in the market, it looked like just a matter of time before Maruti entered this segment and with its network, it was going to succeed.
However, it has been a long time in making that the brand has brought an EV. It is coming at a time when big players like Mahindra, Hyundai and Tata Motors have a dominating spot in the market. With the e-Vitara, Maruti are entering a populated portion of the car market. With the Hyundai Creta Electric, Tata Curvv EV, Mahindra BE 6 and MG ZS EV. All of these brands have been in the market for a while now, and they have tested and corrected from their learnings, of course.
Maruti e-Vitara launch loses hype to Mahindra XEV 9S
Despite some big anticipation for the e-Vitara, it all went down with the coming of Mahindra XEV 9S. The SUV is larger than the e-Vitara and, as an off-roader, comes at a cheaper price point. Coming with a bigger battery pack, which is 59 kWh, 70 kWh and 79 kWh, the options are varied, and the tech on offer is just as good.
Where Maruti could have played its rivals was the pricing, and though nothing official has been called, it is believed that the pricing will fall in excess of Rs 17 lakh. At not so much a premium price of Rs 29.95 lakh, it is the XEV 9S that can be a prized possession. Most importantly, the higher battery spec of Mahindra’s new boy has a better range, it is more spacious as a 7-seater.
The question does appear if Maruti have come to the party a bit late when most brands have solidified their place in the market and are going for the next models. Where Maruti still has a case to make is the pricing and the network. Plus, Maruti as a brand has remained trusted by billions for decades.