TOKYO: Japanese auto major Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) is working with compatriot Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) to introduce a compact battery electric vehicle (BEVs) in the Indian market at an early stage, said a top official in the company.
Shigeki Terashi, Executive Vice-President, Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC), said, “India is, of course, one of the countries we have in mind for introduction (of battery electric vehicles). Toyota is large in Japan but has limited presence in India. Maruti Suzuki is large in India…With Suzuki we will explore the possibilities of BEVs (in India)”.
He added the duo will look at launching a compact battery electric vehicle in the country at an early stage without specifying details. “We will start with a compact BEV at an early stage….Since we are working (on it) with Suzuki, I cannot share the timeline”, informed Terashi.
In November 2017, Toyota-Suzuki had finalised an agreement to manufacture and sell electric vehicles in India by the turn of the decade. According to the memorandum of understanding, Toyota was to provide technical knowhow for the project while Suzuki was to manufacture the vehicles for the Indian market and also supply some to Toyota.
Suzuki has since internally developed an electric version of small car WagonR. The company has been testi MG a fleet of 50 such vehicles on Indian roads but has said the high price tag attached with the technology will make it unviable for a commercial launch for personal buyers.
The electric version of the WagonR would cost around Rs 12 lakh, Maruti Suzuki Managing Director Kenichi Ayukawa had earlier told ET, adding that the vehicle could possibly find use in commercial fleet operations.
(The correspondent is in Tokyo on invite of Toyota Motor Corporation)
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