PM Modi Flags Off Maruti Suzuki's First Global EV Model, Inaugurates Facility To Manufacture Hybrid Electrodes With 80 Per Cent Local Components

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today (26 August) inaugurated two facilities at Maruti Suzuki’s Hansalpur plant in Gujarat, advancing India’s push toward sustainable mobility.

The first is a production line for the e-Vitara, Maruti Suzuki’s debut electric vehicle (EV) designed for global markets. The second is a hybrid battery electrode manufacturing unit, a collaborative effort to bolster local production.

The e-Vitara, showcased earlier this year, is Maruti’s first battery electric vehicle aimed at international markets, with exports planned to over 100 countries, including Europe and Japan. Built on a new electric platform co-developed with Toyota, it offers two battery sizes—49 kWh and 61 kWh—with a range of up to 500 km.

The vehicle is expected to hit Indian roads by early September 2025, competing with models like the Hyundai Creta EV. The hybrid battery electrode plant, operated by TDS Lithium-Ion Battery (a Toshiba-Denso-Suzuki venture), focuses on producing over 80 per cent of battery components locally. This is expected to reduce India’s dependence on imported parts, supporting the “Make in India” initiative and strengthening the domestic EV supply chain.

Hybrid electrodes combine materials like lithium iron phosphate or nickel-manganese-cobalt with high-conductivity compounds to optimize energy storage, charging speed, and durability. This technology enhances battery performance for hybrid and electric vehicles, ensuring efficiency and longevity.

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