Maruti Suzuki will begin a nationwide market survey in a fortnight to elicit consumer views on electric cars, and come out with the report by February 2018, according to chairman R.C. Bhargava, who also said that the company would roll out its first electric vehicle by 2020.
‘No reliable data’
“There is no reliable ground-level data (regarding consumer views on electric cars). The survey will start in about two weeks and by February-end, we will have some kind of authentic basis for answers to all the questions,” Mr. Bhargava told reporters.
He said, “we (Maruti) don’t have the technology for electric cars,” adding that the technology would be brought in through a partnership between Suzuki and Toyota. Minister of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari had said in May that it was the NDA Government’s vision to make India a 100% e-vehicle nation. According to Mr. Bhargava, it is necessary for the country to develop an ecosystem for electric vehicles that includes manufacturing, reuse and recycling of batteries, training people, charging stations/points, as well as sales and services of electric vehicles.
Asked whether the industry was relying on the government to announce incentives to boost electric vehicle manufacture in India and to make such cars affordable, he said, “SIAM (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers) has suggested something... Some government intervention would be required, but I don’t know to what extent.” SIAM had sought the reduction of GST on electric vehicles from 12% to 5%, as well as exempting electric vehicles from road tax and toll charges. SIAM had also said by 2030, about 40% of all vehicles in the country would be electric and this would go up to 100% by 2047.
Mr. Bhargava, however, said, “the 40% target cannot be reached unless small (electric) cars can be made affordable and acceptable to consumers.” He also said Maruti Suzuki had no intention of subsidising EVs. “Selling cars at a loss is not part of our strategy. We are answerable to our shareholders.”
