EVs will never become a major product in India: RC Bhargava

Maruti Suzuki Chairman RC Bhargava has always tried to focus more on hybrids rather than bringing up straightforward EVs. Let's see what he said in a recent interview.

Maruti Suzuki Chairman RC Bhargava recently made a statement that may irritate supporters of electric vehicles. He has stated that electric vehicles will not become a major product in India and will face significant challenges in entering the Indian market. He also claims that CNG-powered vehicles will outsell hybrids and electric vehicles.

Udayan Mukherjee in a recent interview said, "Electric vehicles will not become a major product in the market and the reason is that the small car component of the total market is still huge at around 70 percent or so. It is not going to be very easy for electric vehicles to penetrate. In India, there is scope for all kinds of fuels. CNG cars are growing very fast, and they will be much more than hybrids and electric cars for many years, as they are more suitable for the small car market".

All in all, Maruti Suzuki will introduce electric vehicles in the Indian market, with the automaker's first electric vehicle set to debut in 2024-25, which is approximately 2-3 years away. The WagonR could be Maruti Suzuki's first vehicle with an all-electric powertrain. The Maruti WagonR Electric car has been spotted testing on Indian roads in recent years.

Maruti betting big on Hybrids

Maruti Suzuki will introduce the Grand Vitara compact SUV, a powerful hybrid vehicle, later this month. The automaker has a global partnership with Toyota to popularise hybrid vehicles in India and other parts of the world. The Grand Vitara Strong Hybrid is a first-of-its-kind vehicle in the compact SUV segment, sharing its platform and components with the Toyota Hyryder Urban Cruiser. The Grand Vitara Strong Hybrid will also have an all-electric mode, allowing it to travel for approximately 25 kilometers on electric power alone.

Maruti Suzuki intends to introduce Strong Hybrid powertrains across its Indian vehicle lineup in the coming years. The powerful hybrids will be offered as an alternative to the diesel engine, which Maruti Suzuki has discontinued entirely. Strong hybrids provide diesel-like fuel efficiency and torque while also emitting lower tailpipe emissions. Strong hybrids can also operate longer on Indian roads because they are not subject to the diesel ban, making them a much better option for the customer.

Maruti's second bet is on CNG

Maruti has introduced CNG variants across the majority of its small car lineup, and the automaker plans to introduce the factory-fitted CNG-Petrol dual fuel option across its entire car lineup within the next year or two. CNG is a clean-burning fuel with operating costs compared to diesel. CNG-powered vehicles are less expensive than powerful hybrids.