Indians not ready for EVs yet: Maruti
NEWDELHI: Maruti Suzuki India Ltd said on Wednesday that its customers are not yet ready to drive electric cars as the country’s top carmaker appeared unfazed amid a slew of electric vehicle launches by its competitors.
Maruti’s managing director, Kenichi Ayukawa, said in an interview that the high cost of electric vehicles and inadequate charging infrastructure pose major challenges to selling such vehicles in India.
He said Maruti’s customer base mostly comprises people looking to buy affordable small and mid-segment vehicles, and buyers of such products are not so eager to purchase an electric vehicle, which is costlier than a petrol or diesel vehicle.
“We have to watch the customers and when they want that kind of a product, then we have to offer that kind of an offering. We cannot find that kind of a requirement at this moment. But we have to prepare ourselves,” Ayukawa said.
Maruti on Wednesday showcased its Futuro-e electric vehicle concept at Auto Expo 2020.
This was the second consecutive edition of the biennial show where the company has unveiled a concept electric vehicle. Maruti is, however, yet to introduce an electric vehicle.
Despite leading the domestic auto market, Suzuki Motor
Corp.’s most profitable unit has been left behind by the likes of Hyundai Motor Co., Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd, Tata Motors Ltd and new entrant MG Motor India Pvt. Ltd in introducing electric vehicles.
Hyundai launched its first long-range electric sport utility vehicle, Kona, in 2019. MG Motor, owned by China’s SAIC Motor Corp., joined the race in January with the launch of ZS electric vehicle. Both the vehi- cles are assembled in India from completely knocked- down kits.
Maruti has been the undis- puted leader in the compact car market and most of its custom- ers are first-time buyers based in metros and tier I cities. Such buyers generally tend to look for fuel-efficient and affordable vehicles.
“I absolutely say that electric vehicles will come after a few years and we have to prepare for it anytime customers expect. By that, I mean our cus- tomers and not anyone else,” Ayukawa said.
“It’s still not easy to use due to lack of charging space. How are they going to use it? Those kinds of preparations we have to do,” he said.
In 2018, Maruti announced that it has begun testing 50 elec- tric vehicles based on its popu- lar Wagon R hatchback. The company has also commis- sioned an internal survey to gauge customer expectations for electric vehicles.