Suzuki partners with Toyota for 1st electric SUV; launch next year
The Suzuki Motor Corporation and Toyota Motor Corporation have decided to further strengthen collaboration in the supply of a battery electric vehicle (BEV) SUV model.
The fully electric model is scheduled to be manufactured at Suzuki Motor plant in Gujarat from the spring of 2025, and will be supplied to Toyota. “Suzuki will supply our first BEV to Toyota globally. While continuing to be competitors, we will deepen our collaborations toward solving social issues, including the realisation of a carbon-neutral society through a multi-pathway approach,” Suzuki president Toshihiro Suzuki said.
The new development marks the first BEV in the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) relationship between the two companies.
It will be launched worldwide, providing consumers a BEV choice even in the SUV market, which has shown remarkable growth in the recent years.
“By leveraging the BEV unit and platform that we jointly developed, we will take a new step in our collaboration in the field of electric vehicles. This will allow us to deliver various choices that can also contribute towards a carbonneutral society. We would like to learn from each other’s strengths, compete, and further make joint efforts based on a multi-pathway approach,” stated Toyota president Koji Sato.
The BEV unit and platform adopted for this model were jointly developed by Suzuki, Toyota and Daihatsu Motor Corporation, utilizing each company’s strength.
The new model was designed exclusively as a BEV. A nimble SUV with the sharp driving characteristics of a BEV, it features ample cruising range and a comfortable cabin. It is also available with a 4WD system, offering exceptional drivability on rough roads and a more powerful driving performance.
