Made in India EVs now driving onto global stage, reflects India’s strength in green mobility: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday flagged off ‘e-VITARA’, Suzuki’s first-ever global strategic battery electric vehicle at the company’s motor plant in Gujarat’s Hansalpur.

Addressing the programme, he said, “Made in India electric vehicles are now driving onto the global stage. It reflects our nation’s growing strength in green mobility.”

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He further noted that Japanese auto giant Suzuki manufacturing in India and the ‘made in India’ cars, being exported back to Japan, not only reflects the relationship between New Delhi and Tokyo, but also the confidence global companies have in India.

“In a way, companies like Maruti Suzuki have become brand ambassadors of Make in India,” he said.

Modi recalled his tenure as Gujarat chief minister when he allotted land to Maruti Suzuki in Hansalpur in 2012, sowing the seeds of India’s success story.

“The vision at that time was also of Atmanirbhar Bharat, of Make in India. Our efforts back then are playing such a big role today in fulfilling the country’s resolutions,” he stated.

He added that the most critical part of the EV (electric vehicles) ecosystem is the battery.

“Until a few years ago, batteries in India were entirely imported. To strengthen EV manufacturing, it was necessary to start battery production in Bharat as well. With this vision, in 2017 we laid the foundation of the TDSG battery plant. In this factory, three Japanese companies will jointly manufacture cells. This localisation will give new strength to our Atmanirbhar Bharat vision,” the PM said.

Modi also inaugurated the next phase of India’s battery ecosystem with the start of local production of hybrid battery electrodes at TDS Lithium-Ion Battery plant in Hansalpur, a joint venture of Toshiba, Denso and Suzuki.

Toshihiro Suzuki, President & Representative Director of Suzuki Motor Corporation, and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel were also present during the event.

The Made-in-India BEVs will be exported to more than one hundred countries, including advanced markets such as Europe and Japan. With this milestone, India will now serve as Suzuki’s global manufacturing hub for electric vehicles.