Suzuki and Toyota have jointly issued a statement announcing their first collaboration in the battery electric vehicle (BEV) segment. Both companies have signed an agreement under which Suzuki will supply its first electric vehicle to Toyota. Although the name of this vehicle is yet to be announced, it will be an electric SUV that will be manufactured at the Suzuki Motor Group (SMG) plant in Hansalpur, Gujarat.
In a joint statement issued by both companies, it is said that Suzuki’s first electric car will feature a 60 kWh battery and will be equipped with a four-wheel drive (4WD) system. This electric car will be supplied to Toyota which will be launched for sale in many other countries around the world including India.
The production of this SUV is scheduled to start in mid-2025. Let us tell you that Maruti Suzuki will introduce its first electric car Maruti eVX at next year’s Auto Expo. Toyota’s new electric car will be based on this. As before, many models have been introduced within the framework of the partnership between the two companies. This car will be jointly manufactured by Toyota, Suzuki and Daihatsu.
What the Toyota electric SUV will be like:
As recent spy photos reveal, Maruti Suzuki has been testing its upcoming eVX electric SUV in India and abroad. It will be a global SUV and will be designed, developed and manufactured keeping the global aspect in mind. After the launch, Toyota will also introduce its new eVX-based model, whose name will be different from this one.
Both companies have also confirmed that production of the said vehicle will begin in the second quarter of the next calendar year. Although its transmission has not been confirmed, it will be equipped with a 4WD system. Whether it is based on a single engine system or a dual engine system, this information has not yet been revealed. However, the electric cars launched by Mahindra and Tata in the past have front-wheel drive system. In such a situation, this electric car from Maruti-Toyota will be able to prove its worth.
Agreement between Toyota and Suzuki:
Let us tell you that Suzuki signed an international alliance with Toyota in 2016, under which it was decided that both the Japanese auto giants will share some models with each other. This includes both jointly developed vehicles and redesigned models developed by Suzuki. This partnership will mutually help both the automakers to increase their production, especially in developing countries like India.
Under this partnership, some models have been introduced in the Indian market. Which includes Toyota Glanza based on Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Maruti Suzuki Invicto based on Toyota Innova Hycross and Toyota Urban Cruiser Highrider based on Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara. The alliance will now extend beyond the ICE model to include future electric vehicles from both brands. This strategic partnership between Toyota and Suzuki has been fruitful so far, as both companies have benefited from sharing engineering, technology and vehicles.
