Exclusive: It's Not About Product; But Infrastructure, Adoption, Education - Partho Banerjee

At the media drive of Maruti Suzuki's first electric vehicle for India, the e-VITARA, I got a chance to speak with Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing & Sales, Maruti Suzuki. In this candid conversation, Banerjee shared insights on the company's EV strategy, infrastructure plans, and what makes the e-VITARA a game-changer. There's a saying that if you have to do something good, you don't have to do it fast or first-you have to do it right.

Siddhartha: Maruti-Suzuki's commitment is to go electric, we have been seeing the e-VITARA for a while, however the company started with building the infrastructure before launching the product officially in India. What was the idea behind that?

Partho Banerjee: "It's not just about the product. It's about infrastructure, adoption, and education. Many consumers still have a traditional mindset that they need an ICE vehicle to go places. Things are changing, but confidence is key. Our research showed three major concerns: Range anxiety, Public charging infrastructure, and After-sales service. We've addressed all three with the e-VITARA and the ecosystem we're building.

The range is done and dusted-543 km on a single charge. That's a big confidence booster for customers.

We now have one of the largest fast-charger networks under our umbrella. We demonstrated this during a 3,000 km drive across India from four corners of the country. Plus, we've installed 60 chargers on the Delhi-Chandigarh route, even though the car can make the trip without charging. It's all about building confidence.

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We have 1,500 workshops across 1,100 cities. That's not a small number. Customers need to know they'll get reliable service wherever they go.

Maruti Suzuki has been in the market for 40 years. We don't just want to sell cars; we want to build relationships. That means transparency and confidence. We're even ensuring proper charging facilities before delivering an EV. If that's not possible, we won't sell the car. It's about preparing the ecosystem first."

Siddhartha Sharma: What makes the e-VITARA's better than the existing EV's in India?

Partho Banerjee: "This is a pure EV platform, not derived from an ICE vehicle. That means a bigger wheelbase and more space inside. It has seven airbags, a five-star safety rating, and plush two-tone interiors in tan and black. It's already running on UK roads, and sales in Japan start next month. This is a car made in India for the world."

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Siddhartha Sharma: The e-VITARA seems like just the start of things to come, what's next for Maruti Suzuki in India in the EV space in terms of a product lineup?

Partho Banerjee: "By 2030, we plan to launch at least 4EV models across different segments. But we're not rushing. We want customers to understand the concept and gain confidence first."

Siddhartha Sharma: When will the e-VITARA be available?

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Partho Banerjee: "Vehicles are already being dispatched to channel partners in December 2025. By January 2026, customers can start experiencing the product and the ecosystem. Pricing? Well, we'll keep that under wraps for now-but expect it to be competitive."

The e-VITARA is all set for a 2026 launch in India. This will be the country's biggest automaker's first EV offering. The e-VITARA, built on the all-new HEARTECT-e EV platform from ground up, offering two battery options-49kWh and 61kWh. The e-VITARA promises to deliver a range of over 500 km on a single charge. It features bold SUV design, 18-inch aerodynamic alloy wheels, and a premium digital cockpit with an integrated display and twin-deck floating console. Safety is top-notch with 7 airbags, Level 2 ADAS, and advanced structural design, it also recently got 5-star safety rating from BNCAP.

Watch out for our full review of the e-VITARA soon on NDTV Auto.