Maruti Suzuki Priority is Infrastructure Development Over ImmediaTE EV SAles in India
He said that a new chapter of E-Vitara is starting and it especially brings out our commitment to create electric vehicles for Indian customers. Banerjee said that Maruti is not in any haste regarding the sale of electric vehicles in the country. The company is earlier focusing on strengthening the infrastructure. This will be followed by an automatic manner of vehicles. A detailed ecosystem supporting the sale of electric vehicles is being prepared and this will guarantee better experience to EV owners. Here are the main parts of this conversation:
Question: Maruti has launched its first electric car E Vitara in the country. The company has made it completely on the electric platform. What will be the difference?
It is the first electric vehicle in Maruti Suzuki’s portfolio and is made entirely on the EBorn SUV. Many EV batteries present in the market are retriffed on the existing internal combustion engine (ICE) platforms, but the design of this vehicle is specially designed for electric power. It will not be available in any other technology format like Ice.
If you look at the chassis of E-Vitara, its wheelbase is 2,700 mm. You will see that many automobile companies are offering reclining rear seats but with such a large wheelbase you can actually slide the rear seat. One advantage of large wheelbase is of more space. With this large wheelbase, the rear seat can be adjusted forward or backward. This provides a lot of space in the back. It gives quite a convenient experience. Another important advantage of fully EV platform is focus on safety. Its battery is placed in a steel or structural casting. We have tested battery in various situations, including impact test, fire test and water test and it has passed all the tests. This is a fully advantage of EV platform.
Question: How has Maruti added AI to her electric vehicle E-Vitara? How is the company preparing ecosystem?
In the company’s first electric car E-Vitara, we have given the advanced system Adas Level 2. We have given features in it that improve driving experience through AI. Driving safety and efficiency can improve from Adas Level 2. We believe that launching a product is not enough, it is necessary to prepare a complete ecosystem. The same is being done for our electric cars. To connect with our customers, we have launched the ‘E for Me’ campaign. The campaign consists of two major strategies. The campaign aims to integrate electric vehicles with a strong support system, including advanced technology and detailed charging network.
Question: In India, people are seeing electric cars as secondary vehicles. How can you change this perspective of customers?
Yes, you are right. People in India are currently seeing electric cars as secondary vehicles. Our goal is to change this trend. For this, we are preparing the entire ecosystem including charging infrastructure. For example, EV stake in the last calendar year of 2.4 percent. It was about 2.3 percent in the previous year. Despite launching electric cars of many automobile companies and reducing the price, this stake has not increased much. The main reason for this is the existing system. Two separate cars are required for travel between cities and in the city. Electric cars are not practical for both these travel.
The ecosystem we are preparing aims to make electric cars primary vehicles. There are apprehensions such as the end of charging during a long journey of many electric car users. This is correct in view of the current infrastructure. Our first priority is to strengthen charging infrastructure. Our ‘e for me’ campaign is one such step. Through this, our goal is to expand the ecosystem of charging across the country. Through Maruti Suzuki electric ecosystem, we are working to expand the charging infrastructure in the top 100 cities of the country. The reason for choosing these 100 cities is the sale of 97 percent of electric cars in these cities in the country.
Apart from this, we are focusing on providing the facility of offer-cell services and emergency charging in 1,000 cities. For the need for assistance in customers or the way to the way to vehicles in remote areas, we are starting 300 service on wheels, which will be available on a call. Our goal is to increase people’s confidence in electric cars. Despite this, if an EV customer faces charging problem during a long journey, we are also offering a leasing model. We will provide vehicles on lease to EV customers and if they need to go on a long journey, they will have the option to take an ice vehicle from the company. With this we are giving confidence to EV customers. It will also help in making electric cars primary vehicles for Indian customers.
Question: What role do you see Maruti in the shift on electric mobility in the country in the next five to 10 years?
We estimate that by 2030-31 the industry will reach 60 lakh vehicles. EV will have about 1 million units in this. By then, hybrid cars will also be available in the market with EV vehicles and CNG options. Apart from this, flex may also have fuel and hydrogen -powered vehicles. As a leader in the industry, we believe that it is necessary to provide all these options to customers. Our goal is to provide various range of technologies to fulfill the various definitions and choices of our customers.
Question: What are the future plans after Maruti’s E-Vitara launch? Can we see special EV stores for electric cars?
We have launched our first electric car in the country with E-Vitara. Our plan is to introduce five electric cars by 2030. We believe customers in offering all technologies such as ice, electric, hybrid or semi-hybrid. Our goal is to provide all these technologies under one roof. This will give customers a chance to choose what they want to buy.
(Tagstotranslate) Electric vehicles
