Hansalpur, Gujarat – In a grand spectacle that blended Ganeshotsav vibes with giga-factory dreams, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched India’s green mobility initiatives, declaring that the world will now drive cars stamped proudly with “Made in India”.
Standing amidst an audience of ministers, ambassadors, CEOs, and employees who probably wondered if their selfies with the PM would trend, Modi unveiled Suzuki’s first Made-in-India Battery Electric Vehicle (the e-Vitara) set to zip across 100 countries. Alongside, India’s first hybrid battery electrode manufacturing also went live — proof that we’re not just charging batteries, we’re charging into the future.
Maruti Enters Its Teenage Years
With the flourish of a seasoned storyteller, PM Modi compared Maruti Suzuki’s 13-year journey at Hansalpur to entering teenage years: “Teenage is about spreading wings, chasing dreams, and barely touching the ground.” A not-so-subtle hint perhaps that while Maruti was once India’s toddler on four wheels, it now has the hormonal energy of a global EV giant ready to rebel against fossil fuels.
From Padma to Plug Points
The PM fondly remembered Osamu Suzuki, the visionary behind Indo-Japan auto ties, noting that his Padma Vibhushan honour was no mere decoration but a full-throttle acceleration towards Make in India. Today, that vision is firing lithium-ion dreams where once India only imported batteries. Now, cells and electrodes will be made locally, ensuring that the only thing “imported” about our EVs will be the envy from abroad.
Ambulances That Zoom Without Smoke
In a particularly charged revelation, Modi revealed he test-drove (well, test-saw) a Maruti hybrid ambulance developed in just six months. “Old ambulances can now be reborn as hybrid EVs,” he quipped, as if hinting at the world’s first eco-friendly emergency siren: one that saves lives and the planet at the same time.
Democracy, Demography & Demolition of Imports
The PM declared India’s winning trio — democracy, demography, and a skilled workforce — as the ultimate turbocharged engine for foreign investors. “Maruti Suzuki is now exporting cars to Japan itself,” he said, joking that it’s proof of how tables turn when Atmanirbhar Bharat shifts gears.
Golf, Gujarati Thalis & Global Partnerships
In an off-script moment, Modi recalled how wooing Japanese investors once required golf courses and Japanese food in Gujarat. “Just like Gujaratis look for dhokla abroad, the Japanese looked for sushi here,” he said, to chuckles. Seven golf courses later, Gujarat had both investment and birdies.
A Teenage EV Nation Aiming for Adulthood by 2047
The PM closed with a rallying cry for a Viksit Bharat by 2047. “Swadeshi doesn’t care about whose money is invested — what matters is whose sweat shines on the product,” he said. With EVs rolling out, semiconductors gearing up, and rare earth missions digging down, he made clear India isn’t just electrifying its roads — it’s turbocharging its destiny.
As the e-Vitara quietly hummed to life in the background, one thing was certain: India’s EV journey may be in its teenage years, but it’s already thinking about buying its first bullet train ticket to adulthood.
