- Suzuki has unveiled its first mass production BEV, the e VITARA.
- An all-electric take on its longstanding popular SUV model, the Vitara, this new model is based on an EV-native platform, co-developed with both Toyota and Daihatsu – with Toyota set to reveal a new EV with the same underpinnings in the near future.
- Being produced at Suzuki’s India facility, the e VITARA is set to be a global EV for the manufacturer, with sales beginning in Europe, India, and Japan, in the summer of 2025.
Suzuki’s first BEV revealed
The e VITARA is based on Suzuki’s electric eVX concept, that we saw our first glimpse of back in 2023. It uses an all-new platform called HEARTECT-e, designed from the ground up for BEV applications. This platform will also help see the birth of a new Toyota EV, of a similar size to the e VITARA – which will mark the second BEV to come from Toyota.
It’ll be offered with two battery options – the first, a 49kWh unit, and a longer range 61kWh option. The latter can also be specified as a four-wheel-drive model with a ‘trail mode’, which should give it a stronger off road ability than its rivals. There’s no word on pricing yet, but judging by its size and Suzuki’s typical offer of value for money, expect it to be priced from below the £35,000 / €35,000 mark, competing on price with EVs such as the Skoda Elroq.
Suzuki have also noted that is the first of several BEVs to be revealed. The manufacturer has already heavily pivoted towards hybrids and PHEVs, but this vehicle marks the movement of Suzuki towards fully-electric vehicles.
President of Suzuki, Toshihiro Suzuki, commented:
“The e VITARA is our first BEV, developed through repeated trial and error to create an easy-to-use BEV for our customers. In order to realize a carbon- neutral society, we will provide a variety of options, including BEVs, hybrid vehicles, and CNG vehicles, tailored to specific regions. Introduction of the e VITARA represents a significant milestone in achieving carbon neutrality. Following the launch of the e VITARA, we will continue to expand our BEV line- up and propose mobility solutions tailored to the needs of specific countries and regions.”
