Maruti rolls out e-Vitara at under Rs 11 lakh

NEW DELHI: India's electric vehicle market is set for intense competition with Maruti Suzuki launching the all-new e-Vitara at a starting price of Rs 10.99 lakh, with a Rs 3.99 per km Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) ownership plan, marking the company's formal entry into the EV segment.

Under the BaaS model, the battery cost is separated from the vehicle price, reducing the upfront acquisition cost as customers can pay based on how much they drive.

The ex-showroom price will translate into an on-road price of around Rs 11.3 lakh in Delhi, depending on insurance. Maruti has not yet disclosed prices for non-BaaS options or other variants, saying details will be announced in coming days. Bookings are expected to start in next few days.

"We are not just launching a product but launching an overall ecosystem," said Partho Banerjee, senior executive officer (marketing and sales), Maruti Suzuki India. He said the company is focused on addressing customer concerns around driving range, charging infrastructure and after-sales support.

Banerjee said Maruti offers charging facilities across Nexa network and workshops nationwide, with 1.5 lakh technicians trained for EV servicing and mobile service vans equipped with charging support for roadside assistance.

"Maruti Suzuki's aggressive BasS pricing plus usage-linked battery EMI reflects its trademark strategy of disrupting segments even when entering late...however, the real test will be whether Indian consumers continue to prioritise economics and reliability, or shift towards the futuristic designs and feature-loaded offerings from local competitors," said Gaurav Vangaal, associate director at S&P Global Mobility.