Latest news with #ToyotaUrbanCruiserBEV
NDTV
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- NDTV
Toyota Urban Cruiser BEV Expected By Year-End, Rivals e Vitara
Toyota, the Japanese car major, is working to launch its Urban Cruiser BEV in India. The Urban Cruiser BEV was unveiled for the Indian market at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025. The Toyota Urban Cruiser BEV shares its platform with the Maruti Suzuki e Vitara, which is likely to launch during the festival season. Also Read: Shehnaaz Gill Buys Mercedes-Benz GLS Worth Over Rs 1.34 Crore The electric SUV is likely to make its way to the Indian roads by the year's end. The Toyota Urban Cruiser BEV will be produced at Maruti's Gujarat facility, alongside the e Viatara. The Urban Cruiser BEV will get two battery packs as an option- a 49 kWh and a 61 kWh battery. Urban Cruiser BEV rivals Maruti's e Vitara The 49 kWh battery pack will deliver 144 hp of peak power, while the larger battery pack is capable of churning out 174 hp. The bigger battery trim will be available with the front-wheel-drive setup as well as the all-wheel drive system. Whereas, the smaller battery variant will be restricted to the front-wheel drive setup. It will also deliver a range of up to 500 km on a single charge. Also Read: The Urban Cruiser electric will give more space for the passengers as compared to the e Vitara. It measures 4,285 mm in length and offers 2,700 mm of wheelbase. The exterior of the Urban Cruiser BEV is characterized by a chrome strip connecting the headlights along with 12-piece LED DRLs, alloy wheels, black-colored door garnish, roof-mounted spoiler, a bulky bumper on the rear end, and more. The exact interior specs of the BEV have not been revealed yet and we'll have to wait a bit longer for the details.
The Print
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Print
Maruti is late to the EV party, and it's Toyota's plus-one. Real reinvention demands more
Now, in what seems like a make-or-break moment, Maruti is pinning its EV bets on its deepening alliance with Toyota. The two have jointly developed an electric SUV, based on the Maruti eVX platform. It will be rebadged for both brands as the Maruti Suzuki e Vitara and the Toyota Urban Cruiser BEV, and is expected to hit roads in 2025. For decades, the brand has been synonymous with middle-class aspiration and functional reliability. But as rivals Tata Motors, Hyundai, and BYD race ahead with compelling EV offerings, Maruti's absence has become impossible to ignore. India's automotive landscape is going through a once-in-a-generation upheaval. Electrification is no longer a luxury niche, but a fast-accelerating inevitability. Yet, amid the electric buzz, one name has been curiously reticent: Maruti Suzuki On the surface, the collaboration seems like a masterstroke: Toyota brings the global EV pedigree, and Maruti brings its local manufacturing prowess and market reach. But scratch the surface, and a more complex picture emerges. Also Read: Delhi's EV policy is too ambitious. CNG autos, commercial vehicles will take massive hit Toyota's tech meets Maruti's reach The first and most obvious synergy lies in technology transfer. Toyota, a pioneer in hybrid technologies and a late yet serious entrant in the full-EV race, can help Maruti leapfrog years of R&D. Battery efficiency, thermal management, and drivetrain systems—areas where Maruti currently lacks depth—are where Toyota can provide invaluable expertise. For a brand that has never launched a full EV, this partnership offers a plug-in to immediate technological legitimacy. Maruti's cost leadership and manufacturing scale are a perfect foil to Toyota's often premium positioning. By localising production, particularly battery assembly, and leveraging India as a global export hub, the two companies can drive down unit economics. If executed with discipline, the partnership could deliver EVs that are not just affordable but profitable. In an industry where margins are notoriously thin, that's no small feat. Distribution is another strength. Maruti's sprawling dealership and service network, especially in Tier-2 and Tier-3 towns, gives Toyota on-ground reach it could never build independently in India. While Toyota's brand may attract a more premium customer, Maruti's deep customer base and after-sales efficiency can help democratise EV adoption across income segments. Also Read: I drove from Mathura to Delhi in an MG Windsor. And it showed me India's real EV landscape Perils of riding pillion Yet, for all the strategic alignment, Maruti must tread carefully. The history of the automotive industry is littered with alliances that began with promise and ended in pain. Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi, Daimler–Chrysler, and even Ford–Mahindra all started with synergies on paper but floundered in execution due to cultural mismatches, conflicting market priorities, and technology silos. The risk of overdependence is real. If Toyota remains the sole source of innovation, Maruti could find itself permanently playing catch-up, its strategic agility tied to another company's roadmap. The partnership also carries brand positioning risks. Maruti is mass-market. Toyota, especially in the EV space, may aspire to higher perceived value. Cross-badged EVs can confuse consumers if the differentiation is not crystal clear. What works in badge engineering for ICE vehicles like the Glanza and Urban Cruiser Hyryder may not translate seamlessly to the EV domain, where design, performance, and digital interfaces are central to brand identity. Perhaps the most existential question is whether Maruti can afford to let its future be shaped by another firm. In the short run, Toyota is a strategic bridge to the EV era. In the long run, however, Maruti must build its own battery R&D, software ecosystems, and autonomous tech capabilities. If the EV transition is a marathon, partnerships are merely pit stops, not the race strategy. Tesla's anticipated India entry and Tata's aggressive roadmap will only intensify competitive pressures. In this context, Maruti's success will not hinge on being first but on being resilient and responsive. The partnership with Toyota gives it a powerful springboard—but only if it invests concurrently in its own learning curve. In sum, the Maruti-Toyota alliance offers a rare chance for India's automotive titan to reinvent itself. But reinvention demands more than riding pillion on someone else's EV—it demands driving one's own transformation. Dr Kiran Mahasuar is an Assistant Professor in the Strategy, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship Area at IMT Ghaziabad. Views are personal. (Edited by Asavari Singh)
