PM Modi flags off Maruti Suzukis first made-in-India EV e-Vitara; to be exported to 100 countries
PM Narendra Modi has flagged off production of the e-Vitara set to be exported across 100 countries. The e-Vitara internationally comes with two battery packs, a 49 kWh unit and a 61.1 kWh unit.
New Delhi: Maruti Suzuki India Limited have started the production of their first battery-powered SUV, the e-Vitara, marking their entry into the electric vehicle segment. The e-Vitara will be produced at the carmaker’s Hansalpur facility in Gujarat, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has flagged off the first unit. Indian buyers are likely to see the e-Vitara launch by September 3rd.
PM Modi inaugurated the rollout of the first vehicle, designed for exports to 100 countries, including in Europe. The ceremony was also attended by Chief Minister of Gujarat Bhupendra Patel and Keiichi Ono, Ambassador of Japan in India. Coming as Maruti Suzuki’s debut in Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), the e-Vitara is positioned as a global product.
It has already been launched in the UK, and in India, it will be competing against the likes of Hyundai Creta Electric, Mahindra BE 6 and MG ZS EV. It is being offered with 18-inch aero-optimised alloys, which have been wrapped in Goodyear tyres.
Maruti Suzuki e-Vitara powertrain
In terms of powertrain, the e-Vitara internationally comes with two battery packs, a 49 kWh unit and a 61.1 kWh unit. The smaller pack produces 142 bhp and 193 Nm of torque with a front-wheel drive setup, offering a WLTP-tested range of nearly 344 km. The 61.1 kWh comes in two variations, the front-wheel drive makes 171 bhp and 193 Nm of torque and has a range of 426 km, while the all-wheel drive version makes 181 bhp and 307 Nm, of torque with a range of 395 km.
It takes 49 kWh, 6.5 hours on a 7 kW AC charger and 4.5 hours on the 11 kW charger. The 61 kWh unit needs 9 hours and 5.5 hours in the same charging setup. Both can support DC charging, which allows an 80 per cent charge in just 45 minutes.
On the inside, it has a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system and 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and gets a 10-way adjustable driver’s seat, panoramic sunroof and the lot. In terms of safety, it has seven airbags, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and a 360-degree camera.