Suzuki electric cars expected from 2025
Small-car specialist to expand into new segments with EVs, but Aussie deliveries will be delayedSuzuki has confirmed it will introduce its first global EV from 2025, but exactly when Australians will get to jump behind the wheel of a new battery-electric Suzuki model remains unclear.
Suzuki Australia general manager of automobiles, Michael Pachota, said the company would be pushing to bring affordable EVs Down Under, but wouldn’t provide details on the car/s in question or local launch timing.
He implied the 2025 global release date for Suzuki’s first global electric car, which will be built at a new factory in India and was previewed by the 2020 Suzuki Futuro-E concept, is unlikely to apply to Australia given our relatively low EV sales and lack of mandatory CO2 emissions regulations.
He said that will push Australia down the priority list for the EV, which we expect will be a small SUV that’s likely to have plenty in common with the Toyota BZ3X – a model that sits below the forthcoming Toyota BZ4X.
“Obviously, we are the small-car specialists,” said Pachota.
“It is an area that we definitely excel in, and if we were going to introduce electric vehicles I would suggest that somewhere in the small-vehicle space would be our target.
“Suzuki globally is working on electrification, especially with some of their partners in the industry.
“As you know, there’s a partnership with Toyota that is tackling the electrification case, from a total perspective.”
The latest Suzuki Grand Vitara – which isn’t coming to Australia – is fitted with a Toyota hybrid powerplant, while the Suzuki Across sold in Europe is based on the Toyota RAV4 PHEV.
“So, you know, using our technologies in small vehicles and their technologies in hybrid technology, and bringing that together for an electric future, really will mean that the two brands will charge forward, pun intended,” said Pachota.
Asked whether Suzuki Australia would consider moving into larger vehicle segments, Pachota said: “Yes, you’d be very right to assume that.”
So a Suzuki version of the Toyota BZ4X is another possibility to watch out for.
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
