MAKING THE EV LEAP

Maruti Suzuki is all set to enter the mass market EV segment with the e Vitara. We take a quick look at the UK-spec version ahead of its launch in India.

- ISHAN RAGHAVA

The EV transition in the Indian market has been an interesting shift to track.

In practical terms, the mainstream momentum was triggered by the Tata Nexon EV, which offered customers an affordable entry into the world of EVs - something that its sales numbers reflected well. Despite its success, most players in the mass market segment were still hesitant - some were held back by the time needed to develop an EV for India, while others were uncertain about the success of mass-market EVs in India.

All this, however, changed with the success of the MG Windsor, effectively dispelling doubts and uncertainty surrounding mass-market EVs in India. The result? Well, manufacturers who once waited on the sidelines are now either launching affordable EVs or have a clear roadmap to do so.

It's not surprising, then, that India's largest automotive manufacturer, Maruti Suzuki, too, is all set to enter the EV segment, with the soon-to-be-launched e Vitara. Interestingly, we drove the e Vitara in the UK, but it's actually produced exclusively in India and exported worldwide, including to Japan. So, how does Maruti Suzuki's very first EV come across in our initial evaluation?

CONSERVATIVE, YET DISTINCTIVE