Suzuki Motor’s Gujarat plant will supply electric SUVs to Toyota
The tie-up between Japan’s Suzuki Motor and Toyota Motor is being taken forward. Under this, Suzuki Motor will supply new battery electric vehicles (BEV) to Toyota. This model will be manufactured at Suzuki Motor’s Gujarat plant early next year.
This BEV will be an SUV. Maruti Suzuki plans to launch it next year. Suzuki Motor has about 58 percent stake in Maruti Suzuki. Suzuki Motor President, Toshihiro Suzuki said, “Our first battery electric vehicle will be supplied to Toyota in the international market. This will further the collaboration between the two companies.” This BEV unit and the platform for it have been jointly developed by Toyota, Suzuki and Daihatsu Motor. The strengths of these three companies have been used in it. The sale of electric vehicles has increased rapidly in the last few years. Many automobile companies are launching their models in this segment.
Toyota and Suzuki are also preparing to launch a compact electric vehicle (EV) in the international market next year. Both these companies have signed an agreement for partnership in technology and models. This can be a crossover EV. This EV is being said to be a compact version of Toyota’s bZ4X available in the international market. Suzuki and Toyota’s target is to develop compact vehicles. The new EV has been codenamed ‘Bz’. Toyota has planned to expand its EV portfolio. The company’s Bz can be brought in the affordable segment. This can help Bz get a large number of customers. The company’s e-TNGA platform can be important for this. Toyota is also developing a new SUV. It will be priced below the company’s Fortuner.
Toyota’s portfolio in the country includes Glanza to Fortuner Legender. The company has strengthened its position in the MPV and SUV segments. With the mid-size SUV, Urban Cruiser Hyryder, the company has made a place in the price category of less than Rs 20 lakh. Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) plans to set up its third plant in Karnataka. This can increase the company’s production capacity by one lakh units.
