Auto Expo 2018: Maruti Suzuki’s Electric Plans For India

“If the basic knowledge is not available, how can you make policies for EVs?” asks RC Bhargava

Image used for representational purposes.

(Photo: Reuters)

Maruti Suzuki Unveiled their Future S Concept at Auto Expo 2018. The Electric Powered crossover garnered a lot of attention at the Auto Expo, as this car is speculated to begin Maruti Suzuki’s Electric Vehicle (EV) chapter in India.

BloombergQuint got a hold of Maruti Suzuki’s Chairman RC Bhargava, who seems to be in no rush to launch his first electric car. When asked about the EV plans by BloombergQuint, RC Bhargava said that first we should first let policies be worked upon and then initiate the plan with EVs.

It takes a lot of work to make a reasonable policy. If I were to ask you how many people can charge their cars at home, would you know? How would even the policymakers know? If the basic knowledge is not available, how can you make policies? Reduction of fossil fuels and emissions is an objective that must be attained. Any technology that reduces emissions is good, including electric propulsion.

RC Bhargava, Chairma, Maruti Suzuki

Bhargava also talked about the ‘scrapping policy’ (what to do with the older cars) and said that it does not make sense to him because if one person is maintaining his car better than the other person, but his car is being scrapped only because the other person’s car is newer, it does not make sense.

BloombergQuint also got in touch with Maruti Suzuki’s Product Development head CV Raman at the unveiling of the Future S concept, who said that SUV-type characteristics are liked by the customers, but they would like to see it in a small and compact package, which is something Maruti Suzuki has tried to do with the Future S concept.

On being asked about the Electric Vehicle platform, if the Future S platform will be used for their Electric Vehicles, Raman said that 2020 will see Maruti Suzuki’s first electric vehicle, for which they are studying the market to understand the customer needs properly.

“Based on the customer needs, we will take our next steps”, CV Raman

Given the fact that the Automotive world is witnessing a paradigm shift towards electricity replacing conventional fuel, India is expected to see some development towards it pretty soon.

(With inputs from BloombergQuint)