Having just unveiled its first electric car, Suzuki wants to monitor market developments before going any further.
While some manufacturers are well ahead of the curve on electric cars, others are a little further behind. This is for example the case of Suzuki, which however wants to catch up as quickly as possible. Thus, the Japanese firm has taken an important step in the world of electric mobility by recently unveiling the eVitaraits first 100% electric SUV. This mark marks a particularly important new step for the Japanese manufacturer.
Suzuki does not rush
This vehicle, built in India, shares a platform and several features with another electric SUV in development by Toyota, the Toyota bZ. But behind this progress, Suzuki remains cautious about its future investments in electric vehicles, due to the growing challenges in this constantly evolving sector. The electric vehicle market is indeed experiencing a global slowdown, particularly due to economic and competitive factors. Although the Japanese manufacturer announced in early 2023 a massive investment of $35 billion to launch five electric models by 2030, this commitment could be revised. At the launch of the eVitara, Suzuki president Toshihiro Suzuki expressed reservations about the electric growth prospects. In front of the media, he highlighted the increased competition from Chinese brands and the decline in government incentives as major obstacles. These challenges lead the manufacturer to rethink its strategy and not want to rush, quite the contrary.
A special situation
“The situation is very difficult at the moment,” he told Autocar magazine. “On the one hand, sales of electric cars are slowing and, on the other, affordable and competitive Chinese vehicles are entering the market en masse. This makes the context for introducing new electric vehicles very complex. » According to Toshihiro Suzuki, the gradual withdrawal of state subsidies, combined with pressure from Chinese brands that produce cheap and attractive models, is forcing the manufacturer to reassess the type of vehicles it should develop, and above all, when. This caution is not new for the Japanese manufacturerwhich has long been hesitant about electric cars, preferring to focus on hybrids and thermal engines optimized for small cars, a segment in which it is very present in India and Japan. However, by early 2023, Suzuki had revealed ambitious plans for five new electric models. These include a fully electric version of the iconic Jimny, as well as electric versions of its popular S-Cross and Ignis models.
But if the prospect of an electric Jimny is already arousing the interest of fans of the off-road model. However, Toshihiro Suzuki himself expressed his doubts, explaining that the extra weight of the battery could impair the vehicle’s crossing capabilities. Thus, no zero-emission version (exhaust) is currently planned for the small adventurer 4X4.
Source: www.autoplus.fr
