Maruti Suzuki today unveiled the concept electric SUV eVX at India’s flagship motor show, Auto Expo 2023, returned to the country on Wednesday after a three-year hiatus.

Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) in Japan designed and developed the Concept eVX, a mid-size electric SUV concept. According to the company, it will be powered by a 60 kWh battery pack that will provide up to 550 km of driving range on a single charge.

“We plan to bring it to market by 2025. Addressing global warming is a priority at the Suzuki Group,” PTI quoted SMC Representative Director and President Toshihiro Suzuki as saying at the expo while unveiling the product.

“We are promoting a range of global measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated from our business. One important measure is to reduce the amount of CO2 emitted by our products. “In India, we will invest 100 billion rupees (Rs 10,000 crore) in the production of BEVs (Battery Electric Vehicles) and their batteries, as announced in March last year,” he added.

Maruti said in a statement that the unveiling demonstrates the company’s bold plan for electric mobility in India.

Maruti Suzuki is also showcasing its eco-friendly products, including the WagonR Flex Fuel prototype, the Brezza S-CNG, and the Grand Vitara Intelligent Electric Hybrid.

“With a particular focus on Aatma Nirbhar Bharat, we have committed to bringing new products, technologies, investments, and facilities to India…. We believe in exploring a wide range of technologies such as hybrids, CNG, bio-CNG, ethanol, and electric to support the Government of India’s twin goals of reducing oil imports and reaching Carbon Net Zero by 2070,” said Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO of Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. He also mentioned that the approach to electric vehicles is holistic, with a focus on scale and localization.

According to Takeuchi, the Concept eVX is Suzuki’s first global strategic electric vehicle, making its debut in India.

“Through its sharp design language, it brings exciting urban SUV styling, and as a battery electric vehicle, it purposefully reinforces our commitment to environmental friendliness and sustainability,” he added.

Maruti Suzuki will display 16 vehicles at the expo, including the Grand Vitara, XL6, Ciaz, Ertiga, Brezza, WagonR Flex Fuel, Baleno, and Swift.

The biennial auto show, which was originally scheduled for 2022, has been moved to this year due to COVID-19. Some major manufacturers, including Mahindra & Mahindra, Skoda, Volkswagen, and Nissan, as well as luxury carmakers such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi, are not taking part in this edition.

In addition, leading two-wheeler manufacturers such as Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj Auto, and TVS Motor Co will be limited to displays of flex-fuel prototype vehicles at the Ethanol pavilion.

Traditional automakers will be led by Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Tata Motors, Kia India, Toyota Kirloskar, and MG Motor India at the show in Greater Noida (Uttar Pradesh), which will see five global launches and the launch and unveiling of 75 products.

This expo edition begins with press days on January 11-12, followed by general public days on January 13-18. In this edition, there is a much larger participation of newer startup players, particularly in the electric vehicle segment.