 "Representative image. File/Reuters")
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday flagged off “e-Vitara”, the made-in-India Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), which will be exported to over a hundred nations, in a major push for self-reliance amid Trump tariffs threats.
During a visit to Gujarat’s Ahmedabad, the prime minister inaugurated e-Vitara, Suzuki’s first global strategic BEVs. PM Modi’s inauguration of the new facility marks a major step toward self-reliance, with the plant set to produce over 80 per cent of the components and processes essential for lithium-ion batteries — significantly slashing imports and positioning India as a potential exporter in the sector.
Ahead of the launch, PM Modi said, “Today is a special day in India’s quest for self-reliance and being a hub for green mobility. At the programme in Hansalpur, e-VITARA will be flagged off. This Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) is made in India and will be exported to over a hundred nations.”
The eVitara is designed as a global electric SUV, measuring 4,275mm in length, 1,800mm in width, 1,640mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,700mm. It features a 3-in-1 electric powertrain that combines the motor, inverter, and transmission into a single unit. Buyers can choose between two battery options: a 49kWh pack paired with a front-mounted motor delivering 144hp and 189Nm of torque, or a larger 61kWh pack matched with a front motor producing 174hp and the same 189Nm of torque.