Before Its Initial EV Rollout, Maruti Plans 25,000 Charging Points

Nitin Konde, Apoorva Bajj

Sep 20, 2024 — 3 min read

Before Its Initial EV Rollout, Maruti Plans 25,000 Charging Points

In preparation for the introduction of its first electric vehicle, a midsize SUV known as Concept eVX, which is scheduled to take place in January 2025, Maruti Suzuki India intends to install close to 25,000 electric vehicle charging stations. Aside from utilizing its more than 5,100 service centers located in 2,300 cities, the leading automobile manufacturer in the country is also in discussions with oil marketing companies (OMCs) and energy companies to establish a charging ecosystem.

Through their combined efforts, Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan Petroleum operate more than 81,000 retail stores across the nation, thereby controlling approximately 90 percent of the retail market!

It has been reported in the media that Maruti has begun conducting a study of their dealer workshops in search of charging points. Each of its service centers is going to be equipped with at least one dedicated bay and two charging stations, according to the plan. Training for service mechanics has already begun in Bengaluru.

How Maruti Is Planning to Execute Its Plan

Hisashi Takeuchi, the managing director of Maruti Suzuki, stated this week at the 64th Annual Convention of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) in New Delhi that the company will develop a variety of solutions for its electric vehicle (EV) clients in order to lessen their concerns around the ownership of an EV. According to what he said, company would make use of the power of its network in order build confidence in its clients regarding their after-sale support.

Maruti intends to sell 3,000 units of the eVX within the first three months of its launch, with the cost of the vehicle being estimated to be between INR 20-25 lakh. The electric sport utility vehicle (e-SUV) will be manufactured at the company's plant in Gujarat. Maruti intends to launch a total of six to seven electric vehicles over the following six to seven years.

Is It the Right Time to Enter in EV Domain?

Maruti is currently entering the segment at a time when sales in India's emerging electric vehicle market have reached an eight-month low. According to data obtained from the Vahan portal of the government, electric vehicle sales in August were 6,335 units, representing a year-on-year decrease of 10%. The reduction can be attributed to a number of causes, including problems with the charging infrastructure, concerns about range, and high starting pricing.

It is not uncommon for automobile manufacturers to get their ecosystem ready before the launch of their first electric vehicle (EV), and then to continue growing it through collaborations with a variety of stakeholders.

Tata Motors, the market leader in electric vehicles (EVs), distributes five different models of electric vehicles and has established 5,600 public charging points. Meanwhile, Tata Power Renewable Energy, the business' sister company, constructed 101,924 residential charging connections.