Suzuki Motorcycle India, the subsidiary of Japanese automaker Suzuki Motor Corp, is anticipated to launch electric two-wheelers in the Indian market by 2020. Suzuki, along with Denso and Toshiba, is likely to investing Rs 1,700 crore in setting up a battery-making facility in Gujarat.

India: The two-wheeler subsidiary of Japanese automaker Suzuki Motor Corp, Suzuki Motorcycle India is likely to bring electric two-wheelers to the Indian market by 2020. This matches with the plans of Maruti Suzuki, Suzuki’s Indian car-maker unit to launch an electric car here.

It is being widely guessed that a meeting between Suzuki chairman Osamu Suzuki and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2017 has likely prompted the plans for Suzuki to invest locally for electric vehicles. Suzuki, along with Denso and Toshiba, has committed to investing Rs 1,700 crore in setting up a battery-making facility in Gujarat.

Suzuki Motorcycle India has requested the headquarters in Japan for an electric scooter as well as an electric motorcycle for the local market. Suzuki has set up a project team of five people and engaged a leading analytics firm to help devise electric vehicle solutions. While the immediate priority is scooters, Suzuki plans to launch electric motorcycles as well.

The Managing Director of Suzuki Motorcycle said the company wanted to contribute to the government’s vision of electrifying vehicles on the Indian roads and the parent company’s investment in the battery factory would be of great help in this direction. He further stated that the cost of electric scooter is high as compared to the conventional scooters. The company is currently focused on offering an electric scooter that is accessible and addresses the range issue. They are likely launching an electric scooter for India by 2020.

The company believes that the adoption of electrification in two-wheelers could be much faster than in other segments. Suzuki is weighing its options in introducing swappable batteries for addressing the range challenge.

Suzuki Motorcycle developed an electric scooter way back in 2011 with a small 100-volt battery that delivered a range of 30 kilometers on full charge. While the price of the scooter was a challenge at the time, technology has since changed, and the cost has come down. The new Suzuki product for India is expected to be much more enhanced than what it had delivered before.

Suzuki Motorcycle is a marginal player in the Indian two-wheeler market but is the leader in the 125cc scooter segment with its Access brand. The company has strategically decided to exit the mass market motorcycle segment to focus on the premium end of the market. Both scooters and motorcycles as well as electric vehicles are important parts of the future road map.

According to TechSci Research, the proposed plan of launching electric two wheelers for the Indian Market is expected to have a positive impact on the growth of the electric two-wheeler market as well as electric vehicle market in India in the coming years. Electric Vehicle market is anticipated to post robust growth due to growing consumer inclination towards electric passenger cars due to vehicular pollution and its effect on the human health as well as the atmosphere. Moreover, declining prices of electric vehicles, favorable government policies and continuous surge in R&D by several automobile companies to develop premium quality electric vehicles will drive the growth of the electric vehicle market in the coming few years.

According to the recently published report by TechSci Research, “India Electric Two-Wheeler Market, By Vehicle Type (Scooter and Motorcycle), By Battery Capacity (<25 Ah and > 25 Ah), By Battery Type (Lead Acid, Li-ion), Competition Forecast & Opportunities, FY2013-FY2023”, India electric two-wheeler market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of more than 23%, during FY2018E–FY2023F. India electric two-wheeler market is led by the growing need to curb the air pollution levels across the country and the incentive schemes by the government to encourage manufacturing and adoption of electric two-wheelers across the country. Moreover, with consistently growing affordability of electric two-wheelers and increasing focus on leading vehicle manufacturers to develop and roll-out technologically advanced products is expected to positively influence the market during forecast period.

According to the recently published report by TechSci Research, “India Electric Vehicle Market, By Vehicle Type (Three-Wheeler, Two-Wheeler, Passenger Car & Bus), By Drivetrain Technology (Battery Electric Vehicle Vs. Plug-in Electric Vehicle), Competition Forecast & Opportunities, FY2013 – FY2023”, India electric vehicle market is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 37%, during FY2018-FY2023. Robust market growth is anticipated because of rising number of government initiatives such as incentive schemes to encourage adoption of environment-friendly electric vehicles, growing consumer inclination towards electric vehicles, concerns over harmful effects of air pollution, and huge investments by various OEMs for developing more affordable and premium electric vehicles in the coming years.

According to the recently published report by TechSci Research, “India Electric Vehicle Market, By Vehicle Type (Three-Wheeler, Two-Wheeler, Passenger Car & Bus), By Drivetrain Technology (Battery Electric Vehicle Vs. Plug-in Electric Vehicle), Competition Forecast & Opportunities, FY2013 – FY2023”, India electric vehicle market is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 37%, during FY2018-FY2023. Robust market growth is anticipated because of rising number of government initiatives such as incentive schemes to encourage adoption of environment-friendly electric vehicles, growing consumer inclination towards electric vehicles, concerns over harmful effects of air pollution, and huge investments by various OEMs for developing more affordable and premium electric vehicles in the coming years.

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