PM Modi Unveils Suzuki’s e VITARA EV and Battery Manufacturing in Gujarat Strengthening India-Japan Ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated a series of green mobility initiatives in Gujarat, marking a new chapter in India’s push for clean transport and manufacturing self-reliance.

Among the highlights was the launch and flag-off of Suzuki’s 'e VITARA,' the company’s first global strategic Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) manufactured in India. The vehicles, produced at Suzuki’s Hansalpur plant, will be exported to 100 countries, including advanced markets such as Japan and Europe.

Alongside the EV launch, the Prime Minister also inaugurated the start of hybrid battery electrode manufacturing at the TDS Lithium-Ion Battery plant in Gujarat, a joint venture between Toshiba, Denso, and Suzuki. The facility will ensure that more than 80 percent of the battery value chain is localized within India, strengthening domestic capability in the clean mobility ecosystem.

Addressing the gathering, Modi said that India has the power of democracy, the advantage of demography, and a skilled workforce, making it an attractive destination for global investment. He hailed Suzuki’s decision to manufacture in India and export to Japan as a reflection of both the deepening India-Japan partnership and the growing global trust in Indian manufacturing.

The Prime Minister recalled that land for the Hansalpur facility was first allotted to Maruti Suzuki in 2012, during his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat, underlining his long-standing vision of 'Make in India' and Aatmanirbhar Bharat. He paid tribute to the late Osamu Suzuki, calling him a driving force behind Maruti Suzuki’s growth in India.

Modi emphasised that electric vehicles are no longer alternatives but solutions to multiple challenges, from pollution to import dependence. He lauded Maruti Suzuki for developing a prototype of a hybrid ambulance within six months, aligning with the government’s INR 11,000 crore PM E-DRIVE scheme, which includes a budget for e-ambulances.

He added that to strengthen EV manufacturing, it was essential for India to begin domestic battery production. Modi recalled that in 2017, the foundation of the TDSG battery plant was laid with this vision. He announced that under a new initiative by TDSG, three Japanese companies will jointly manufacture battery cells in India for the first time. He said battery cell electrodes will be produced in India, and emphasized that this localization will empower India’s self-reliance. He remarked that the move will accelerate the growth of the hybrid electric vehicle sector and extended his best wishes for this historic beginning.

Highlighting broader progress, Modi pointed out that India’s manufacturing sector has been reshaped over the past decade, with electronics production rising nearly 500 percent, mobile phone output soaring by 2,700 percent, and defence manufacturing doubling. He stressed that India’s next focus will be on futuristic industries, including semiconductors, with six plants set to come up soon.

Concluding his address, the Prime Minister reaffirmed that clean energy and mobility will be central to India’s growth story. He expressed confidence that the initiatives launched in Hansalpur would help build the foundation of a developed India by 2047, while reinforcing Japan’s role as a trusted partner in this journey.