Maruti Suzuki will only introduce electric vehicles with the complete solution: Partho Banerjee

Maruti Suzuki said it will enter the domestic electric car market only with a “complete solution” for consumers, while Hyundai Motor India is sharpening its focus on aspirations, accessibility and cleaner technology in line with evolving car buyers.Partho Banerjee, senior executive officer, sales and marketing, Maruti Suzuki, pushed back against the perception that the country’s largest automaker is late to EVs. “The question is not why Maruti is not coming up with electric cars, but whether you want to provide a partial solution or a total solution,” he said, noting that electric cars account for only about 4% of the industry’s sales despite nearly 18 models being offered.

Banerjee outlined four barriers to mass adoption: real-world driving range, EVs’ ability to serve as a family’s main car, after-sales readiness and resale value. “Early adopters will come, but OEMs ultimately need loyalists,” he said. Maruti’s response, he added, is to offer multiple technologies (EVs, hybrids, CNG and ICE) across segments so that customers have choice.

Maruti has already showcased its first electric SUV, the eVitara, and production is underway at its factory in Gujarat. Exports have begun and domestic test drives and bookings are planned for early next year.

Tarun Garg, Chief Operating Officer and full-time director at Hyundai Motor India, said the pivot of the automotive industry is increasingly driven by ambition. “Creta has transformed India from a functional small car market to an aspirational market,” Garg said, adding that Indian consumers now want global design, advanced safety and technology on par with international markets.