Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off Maruti Suzuki’s first global electric vehicle, e-Vitara, from Hansalpur, Gujarat, on Tuesday (August 26, 2025). The made-in-India car will be exported to more than 100 countries, including Japan.

Mr. Modi also inaugurated a lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility by Suzuki, Toshiba and Denso, supporting hybrid and electric vehicle battery production.

Suzuki announces investment

Following the launch, Japan’s Suzuki Motor said it would invest ₹70,000 crore in India over the next five to six years. This would be to increase production, launch new models and defend its market share in the world’s third-largest car market.

In this screengrab from a video released on Aug. 26, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and others, during a flagging off ceremony of Maruti Suzuki’s first electric vehicle e-Vitara from Hansalpur manufacturing facility, Gujarat. Source: YouTube/Narendra Modi

India is the biggest market by sales and revenue for Suzuki Motor, which has a presence there through its majority stake in market leader Maruti Suzuki. 

(With inputs from Reuters)