'Small cars won't cease to exist': SMC's Toshihiro Suzuki bets big on EVs, hybrid cars

India is going to be a global production hub for hybrid and electric vehicles, according to Toshihiro Suzuki, representative director and president, Suzuki Motor Corporation.

The Japanese carmaker's Indian subsidiary, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, will debut its maiden EV, the e VITARA, at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 on Friday. Suzuki plans to export its 'Made in India' EVs to Europe and Japan.

While EV sales have been sluggish in some countries, Suzuki believes there is potential to grow EV sales in India.

The Japanese carmaker has evaluated EVs launched by other manufacturers in India so far. “We are using an exclusive platform to develop our EV. We are also addressing the issue of charging. Vehicles can be charged at Maruti's service stations,” says Suzuki. “We would like to capture the customer’s voice and by doing so we would like to level up the EV,” he adds.

Suzuki says although the company is launching the e VITARA SUV first, compact vehicles are best-suited to go electric. “Instead of focusing on big vehicles, one has to master the proper manufacturing technique of EVs. After grasping it fully, we would like to make small EVs as well. We have plans to make EVs for the small car segment,” he says.

“We would like to take feedback. We would like to excel in making EVs,” he says.

On the recent slowdown in sales of small cars, the Suzuki president says sales of Maruti Suzuki’s small cars are comparable to SUV sales of other manufacturers. “I don’t think the small car would cease to exist. People are likely to shift from two-wheelers to cars in the future and they would need affordable cars,” he states.

In order to reclaim the lost market share in India, Suzuki says it is important to get the highest share in the SUV segment. “Our first priority is to get top market share in SUVs...We are committed to actively introduce new models with particular emphasis on SUVs."

The Suzuki president says his company is eyeing to reclaim 50% share in the Indian market. Maruti Suzuki currently has 40% share of India’s passenger vehicle market.

India’s significance as an export hub for four-wheelers is becoming ever important, Suzuki says, adding that the automaker will continue to expand its business operations in India. "We want to augment our production capacity to reach 4 million units. We are making efforts at starting Kharkhoda and Gujarat plants," he says.

Suzuki, the son of late Osamu Suzuki who led the Japanese carmaker for more than four decades, says nationality is not a factor to become the CEO of a company like Maruti Suzuki or Suzuki.