Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. has emerged as a dominant force in the nation's electric vehicle (EV) export market, accounting for approximately 90% of all EVs shipped out of India. This impressive figure was announced by Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki, during his address at Business Today’s India@100 Summit in New Delhi.
Despite currently offering only one electric model, the e-Vitara SUV, Maruti Suzuki's contribution underscores India's growing role as a manufacturing hub for Suzuki Group. Takeuchi emphasized the strategic importance of India, noting that the company's share in total passenger vehicle exports from the country climbed to 55% in the financial year 2026-27.
Beyond EVs: A Diverse Mobility Vision
Takeuchi articulated a vision for India's future mobility that extends beyond a singular focus on electric vehicles. He believes the market will be shaped by a blend of technologies, rather than an exclusive shift to EVs. This forward-looking strategy includes a substantial bet on biogas as a key player in addressing both transport emissions and air pollution.
The company views biogas as a potentially superior solution for environmental concerns, especially in densely populated areas like Delhi. According to Takeuchi, biogas, derived from biomass, is inherently carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative. "If you drive the cars with using biogas, which means those cars are 100% carbon neutral or even carbon negative, so which means better than EV," he stated.
Strategic Investment in Biogas Production
To realize this vision, Maruti Suzuki's board has approved an initial investment of Rs 561 crore for the establishment of four biogas plants. This first phase aims to provide valuable insights into the production process and technology. The automaker plans to invest significantly more in the future for the widespread production and distribution of biogas.
Maruti Suzuki anticipates that biogas will not only offer a zero-emission fuel alternative but also alleviate pressure on conventional compressed natural gas (CNG) resources and reduce the reliance on coal for electricity generation, further solidifying India's position in sustainable automotive manufacturing.