Suzuki Is Planning To Make Ertiga Electric After Its WagonR EV Due Next Year

Like many other auto majors, Suzuki is aiming to introduce a line-up of low to zero emission cars in India.

For this, the company had recently announced an extension to its partnership with Toyota. The new-formed collaboration will focus on hybrid vehicles to be sold under the two brands. Meanwhile, the Japanese OEM is also working on pure electrics to be launched in the coming years.

Now, it seems, Suzuki is looking at Ertiga to have such an electric version.

The revised MUV will supposedly be the second such EV from the house of Suzuki, after the company comes up with its much awaited WagonR EV. The electric variant of the WagonR has been spotted making test runs in the country multiple times now and will be launched in the market early next year.

A new report by Livemint cites two senior officials directly linked to the development, with one of them stating ¡°most companies right now are planning to develop affordable electric vehicles for the Indian market and Suzuki is no different."

Having confirmed that the company is working on other such offerings than the WagonR, they even hinted that the new electric car might have a new brand name.

Suzuki Ertiga (Representative Image: Facebook/ Maruti Suzuki Arena)

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Suzuki is still finalising the plans around the car, but information from these sources tells us that the electric Ertiga will be longer than the petrol/ diesel counterparts. Interestingly, the decision to go for Ertiga as a potential EV came after the engineers at Suzuki discarded such a move for the Ciaz as the sedan would have required major changes to utilise an electric drivetrain.

The decision was also propelled by the fact that the multi-purpose car is used by personal and commercial commuters alike.

¡°So, in that way, if the company can come out with an affordable product, then it will serve the purpose of both sets of customers. Ertiga is probably one of the most suitable vehicles to be converted to electric in Maruti¡¯s portfolio," the second person mentioned in the report explained.

However, it is not yet clear whether the electric Ertiga will form a part of the Suzuki, Toyota deal and whether the car will also make its way to the market under a Toyota banner. The company has not even provided an official confirmation to the news. So we might have to wait for long before any more details around the electric Ertiga emerge.

Suzuki Ertiga (Representative Image: Facebook/ Maruti Suzuki Arena)

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For now, the company looks set to launch the electric WagonR in the country before long. Along with the EVs, Suzuki is also working on setting up a lithium-ion battery manufacturing plant in India for its line of hybrid vehicles, in a collaboration with Toshiba Corp. and Toyota unit Denso Corp.

Suzuki, in no way, is alone in targeting the Indian EV market. Hyundai, recently launched India¡¯s first ever all electric long range - an SUV by the name of Kona. Even Honda was spotted recently making test runs of an electric version of its hatchback, Jazz.

MG has announced its eZS electric SUV to be launched in India by this December. Here is a list of all the upcoming electric cars in the country within the next one year.