PM Flags Off India’s First Made-in-India Electric SUV Maruti Suzuki’s e-Vitara, Set to Go Global

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Maruti Suzuki’s first made-in-India battery-electric SUV e-Vitara at its Hansalpur plant in Gujarat on August 26, 2025. This marks Maruti’s entry into the global EV market, with plans to export the model to over 100 countries, including developed regions such as Europe and Japan.

In a move to strengthen India’s EV supply chain, PM Modi also launched the production of hybrid battery electrodes at a joint venture facility by Toshiba, Denso, and Suzuki in Gujarat. This expansion is expected to raise domestic value addition in batteries to over 80%, boosting the nation’s clean energy manufacturing capacity.

The announcement underlined the “Make in India, Make for the World” vision, with Modi stating that EVs labelled “Made in India” will soon be driven globally. He also redefined ‘swadeshi’ in its modern context, not just funding, but labor and craftsmanship by Indians, highlighting new benchmarks in national pride and manufacturing excellence.

The news had an immediate market impact: Maruti Suzuki’s stock jumped nearly 3%, hitting a fresh 52-week high on the National Stock Exchange, signalling strong investor confidence in its electric vehicle strategy. Additionally, the company pledged approximately ₹70,000 crore (around $8 billion) in investments over the next five to six years to cement India’s role as a global EV production hub.