Suzuki begins construction of EV battery, automobile plants in India

MANILA: Suzuki Motor Corporation conducted a cornerstone laying ceremony for its two new plants in India on Sunday, August 28. An electric vehicle (EV) battery plant will be established in Gujarat and a new plant site will be constructed in Kharkhoda, Haryana.

The new EV battery plant will be managed by Suzuki Motor Gujarat Private Limited, while the automobile plant will be established by Maruti Suzuki India Limited.

The cornerstone laying ceremony was conducted as part of the 40th anniversary of Suzuki’s operations in India. In attendance were Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel, Ambassador of Japan to India Satoshi Suzuki, Suzuki Motor Corporation President Toshihiro Suzuki, Suzuki Motor Corporation Senior Advisor Osamu Suzuki, Suzuki Motor Corporation Director and Senior Managing Officer Kinji Saito, Maruti Suzuki Chairman R. C. Bhargava, and Maruti Suzuki Managing Director Hisashi Takeuchi. Virtual attendees include Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Maruti Suzuki Executive Vice Chairman Kenichi Ayukawa.

The EV battery plant will begin operations in 2026, while the new automobile plant will be open in 2025. The Kharkhoda plant is expected to produce up to 250,000 units in its initial year.

Maruti Suzuki manufactures Suzuki S-presso in its Manesar plant in Haryana. With the soon-to-rise EV battery plant in India, will Suzuki be introducing an electrified version of the popular hatchback? Should we also expect more Suzuki models to be available in the Philippines by the second-half of the decade?

Photo from Suzuki Motor Corporation

Also read: '5-Tastic Deals' from Suzuki offer cash discounts, low DP on 5 models