Hansalpur / New Delhi – The Gujarat sun witnessed a different kind of “charged” atmosphere as Suzuki Motor Corporation held the Start of Dispatch Ceremony for its first-ever Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) – the e Vitara – and lithium-ion batteries for strong hybrid vehicles. The ceremony turned into a grand showcase of India’s green mobility ambitions, attended by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Japanese Ambassador Keiichi Ono, and Suzuki President Toshihiro Suzuki. Around 600 dignitaries, officials, and Suzuki employees joined in, proving that when India electrifies, it does so in style.
A Charged-up Address
Suzuki’s Representative Director and President, Toshihiro Suzuki, remarked,
“We are deeply honored that the Hon’ble Prime Minister has graced these landmark projects. The e Vitara, our first BEV, will be manufactured here at Gujarat and exported to over 100 countries including Europe and Japan. The lithium-ion batteries for hybrids are made at TDSG, a shining example of ‘Make in India’. We remain committed to supporting India’s vision for sustainable green mobility.”
Translation for the crowd: India is not just driving the EV revolution, it’s dispatching it – straight from Pipavav port to the world.
e Vitara: Born Electric, Bred Global
Dubbed the “Emotional Versatile Cruiser” (because “Electric Vehicle No.1” didn’t sound as fancy), the e Vitara is packed with futuristic flair:
- A BEV powertrain designed for sharp, nimble drives
- ALLGRIP-e electric 4WD system – equal parts off-road muscle and highway hustle
- A newly developed HEARTECT-e platform, tailor-made for BEVs
- Styling that blends tech-sophistication with SUV ruggedness
First stop: Europe and Japan. Next stop: your Instagram feed with hashtags like #DesiExport #ChargedAndReady.
Powering the Hybrids Too
Not just cars – Suzuki also dispatched India-made lithium-ion batteries for strong hybrid vehicles from its joint venture TDSG (Suzuki + Toshiba + Denso). These will first energize the Grand Vitara, with more models to follow. TDSG, India’s first cell-level lithium-ion battery plant, has already powered over 1 million hybrid vehicles since 2021.
Fun fact: If you lined up all those batteries end to end, you could probably light up an entire cricket stadium (or at least power the DJ at a big fat Indian wedding).
The Bigger Picture
Suzuki’s total investment in India has crossed ₹1,00,000 crore, creating 11 lakh jobs across its value chain. And now, with the e Vitara and homegrown batteries, India isn’t just assembling the future—it’s exporting it with a Gujarati handshake and Japanese precision.
