NEW DELHI: Maruti Suzuki is preparing to take electric vehicles into smaller car segments, but will wait for a wider charging network before expanding beyond its first EV, the e Vitara.The company’s MD and CEO Hisashi Takeuchi said at its annual general meeting that smaller electric models would be added once Maruti’s charging infrastructure is sufficiently developed across the country.Maruti made its entry into India’s electric passenger vehicle market this year with the e Vitara, a mid-size SUV produced at the company’s Hansalpur plant in Gujarat. Rather than rapidly adding electric models, the carmaker has so far linked a broader EV rollout with the availability of dependable charging infrastructure.The company is building that network through partnerships with 13 charge-point operators and has already established more than 2,000 exclusive charging points across over 1,100 cities. Its longer-term plan is to have access to more than 100,000 charging points by the end of the decade, including a stronger presence along highways and expressways.The proposed move into smaller EVs also comes at a time when Maruti is seeing stronger demand for its conventional entry-level cars. Takeuchi said the company’s small-car volumes increased 63% during April-July.
