Maruti Suzuki’s Affordable EV Concept Gets A Name

• Maruti Suzuki is likely to showcase an all-electric concept at the Auto Expo.
• The carmaker has made it clear that it will not launch any EVs in 2020.
• The Wagon R EV’s debut has been delayed due to lack of adequate charging infrastructure.

Maruti Suzuki has filed a trademark application for the name ‘Futuro-E’, leading us to believe that the homegrown carmaker could unveil an all-electric concept vehicle at the upcoming Auto Expo. We believe the Futuro-E could be a preview to an affordable EV that the carmaker plans to launch post 2020. Maruti used a similar name for the S-Presso’s concept version, the Future S, which was unveiled at the last edition of India’s largest auto show.

Details are scarce at this point of time, leaving enough room for speculation. We believe that the Futuro-E could be a concept based on the Wagon R EV. The all-electric version of the Wagon R was supposed to debut next year, but Maruti has made it clear that it will only launch the car by 2021. The carmaker is citing high product cost and lack of ample charging infrastructure as reasons for delaying the launch. Furthermore, Maruti Suzuki has made it clear that it will not launch any EVs in 2020. 

The homegrown carmaker had shipped in 50 prototypes of Wagon R EV from Japan for testing in India. Recently, Maruti Suzuki had mentioned that it will commence the next phase of testing in 2020 rather than launching the car. According to RC Bhargava, Chairman of Maruti Suzuki, the Indian government has changed its priorities and is leaning more towards electric two-wheelers. “The Maruti Suzuki Wagon R Electric is not at a stage that it can be sold commercially," he stated.   

Meanwhile, other manufacturers like Tata and Mahindra are also readying all-electric vehicles for India. The Nexon EV is all set to be unveiled on December 17. Further up the food chain, Hyundai has the Kona Electric which will face intense competition from MG’s latest offering, all-electric ZS EV.