Suzuki’s Rs 70,000 Cr Boost for India

Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan’s automotive giant, has pledged a staggering Rs 70,000 crore investment in India over the next five to six years, aiming to solidify its position in the world’s third-largest car market. The announcement, made by Representative Director and President Toshihiro Suzuki, coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s inauguration of two landmark projects at Suzuki’s Gujarat facility: the export launch of Maruti Suzuki’s first electric vehicle, the e-VITARA, and the start of localized lithium-ion battery production for hybrid vehicles.

“Suzuki will invest over Rs 70,000 crore to enhance production, launch new models, and support India’s sustainable mobility vision,” Suzuki said during the event. The investment will bolster manufacturing, R&D, and eco-friendly initiatives, with Rs 32,000 crore earmarked for expanding production to 1 million units annually and Rs 23,240 crore for developing four battery electric vehicles (BEVs) by 2030. An additional Rs 15,000 crore will focus on carbon-neutral projects, including a biogas initiative using cattle waste.

The Gujarat plant, operated by Suzuki Motor Gujarat (SMG), is set to become a global hub, exporting the “Made-in-India” e-VITARA to over 100 countries, including Japan, the UK, Germany, and Norway, via Pipavav port. With a planned capacity of 10 lakh units, the facility will be among the world’s largest.

Suzuki also celebrated the start of India’s first lithium-ion battery cell production with electrode-level localization at the Toshiba Denso Suzuki plant, reducing import reliance. “This is a testament to Atmanirbhar Bharat,” Suzuki noted, highlighting the multi-powertrain strategy encompassing EVs, hybrids, ethanol flex fuels, and compressed biogas to meet carbon neutrality goals.

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Having already invested over Rs 1 lakh crore in India, creating 11 lakh jobs, Suzuki aims to triple Maruti Suzuki’s exports to 7.5 lakh units by 2030-31 and capture a 50% market share. The company’s focus on localizing over 80% of EV battery components underscores its commitment to India’s economic and environmental aspirations.

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