Suzuki Motor to start road test of e-vehicles

Japanese auto major Suzuki Motor Corporation will start testing prototypes of electric vehicles in India next month, its chairman Osamu Suzuki said on Friday.

"We will start road running a test using fleet of 50 EV prototype vehicles in India from next month for developing safe and easy-to-use EV for Indian customers in line with Indian climatic and traffic conditions," he said at the Global Mobility Summit 'MOVE' here.

Suzuki said the company has decided to launch EV in India around 2020 in cooperation with Toyota Motor Corporation.

It will commence production of lithium-ion batteries, used in electric-vehicles, at its Gujarat plant in 2020.

Terming there is sufficient charging infrastructure development required for penetration of EVs in India, he said, "We look forward to proactive leadership from the Government of India." 

Suzuki Motor Corporation has around 56% stake India's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India.

Speaking at the event, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) Chairman Anand Mahindra suggested creating a universal application, a digital platform encompassing multi-modal mobility under a public-private partnership run by an autonomous body.

Toyota Motor Corporation CEO Takeshi Uchiyamada said the company will make efforts for electrification of its vehicles in India, for which it is working with Suzuki to introduce EVs in the country.

Tata Motors MD Guenter Butschek said the company will continue to harness its core competence of bringing solution that the country needs.

Ford Global Vice President (Mobility and Growth) Brett Wheatley and Hyundai Vice Chairman Chung Euisun said that their companies are working aggressively on green tech vehicles and plans are on to introduce such vehicles in India.