Suzuki to scale up India operations: Rs 70,000 crore investment over next 5–6 years, says automaker firm CEO; move follows EV project launch in Gujarat

Japanese car manufacturer Suzuki Motor Corporation, on Tuesday, announced plans to invest Rs 70,000 crore in India over the next five to six years to enhance its operations in the country, as said by Representative Director and President Toshihiro Suzuki on Tuesday.The announcement came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the export programme of Maruti Suzuki India's first electric vehicle e VITARA to 100 countries and inaugurated the production of lithium-ion battery cells for strong hybrid electric vehicles at their facility.At the event, Toshihiro Suzuki said, "Suzuki will invest over Rs 70,000 crore in India, over the next 5 to 6 years," as quoted by news agency PTI."Suzuki has proudly partnered in India's mobility journey for over four decades. We remain committed to supporting India's vision for sustainable green mobility and contributing to Viksit Bharat," he added.Also read: PM Modi flags off Maruti’s 'made-in-India' EV, to be exported to over 100 countries– top points about 'e-Vitara' projectThe Suzuki Group has previously invested more than Rs 1 lakh crore in India, resulting in the creation of over 11 lakh direct employment opportunities across the value chain.The e VITARA, produced exclusively at Suzuki Motor Gujarat (SMG), a subsidiary of Maruti Suzuki India, will be exported from Pipavav port to European nations, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Norway, France, Denmark, Switzerland, Netherlands, Sweden, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Austria, and Belgium.Suzuki indicated that the Gujarat facility, which serves domestic and international customers, will develop into one of the world's largest automobile production centres, with a targeted capacity of 10 lakh units."We chose this facility to manufacture the e VITARA, our first BEV and make it as a global production hub for this model. We will export this "Made-in-India BEV" to over 100 countries, including Japan and Europe," said Toshihiro Suzuki.He highlighted their second significant achievement as the "start of production of India's first lithium-ion battery and cell with electrode level localisation, which are used in our hybrid vehicles." These are manufactured at the Toshiba Denso Suzuki plant locally."With only raw material and some semiconductor parts coming from Japan, this is a big salute to Atmanirbhar Bharat. We will use a multi-powertrain strategy including Electric, Strong Hybrid, ethanol flex fuel, and compressed biogas, to achieve carbon neutrality and climate change goals."