Suzuki currently has a somewhat niche model range consisting mostly of small and micro cars, as well as small utilities. Earlier this month, the Japanese company unveiled its first production electric vehicle with the eVX concept and that turned out to be just the tip of the iceberg as it now announces a major new strategy towards full electrification in the global market. And yes, this also means that there will be an electric Jimny and above that you can find the first teaser image.
The company’s production plans for Europe include the launch of five battery-powered models by the end of the decade. The former will arrive next year and Suzuki expects around 80 percent of its sales in Europe by 2030 to come from electric vehicles. There’s no information on which model will come first and which will follow later, but there are images of what looks like an electric Jimny alongside other small cars. All we can say for now is that it looks exactly as you’d expect.
In the domestic market, Suzuki has plans to introduce six electric vehicles by 2030, although it is estimated that only 20 percent of its sales in the country will come from BEVs. The third major market in which Suzuki sells cars, India, should also receive six electric models in the next seven years, which will account for around 15 percent of the brand’s sales in the country.
In total, Suzuki will invest no less than 2 trillion Yen (more than $15 billion at current exchange rates) in research and development of new products. It is important to note that this very large figure also includes corporate R&D efforts in sectors outside the automotive industry, including motorcycles, outboard motors and others. An additional 2.5 trillion yen ($19.2 billion) will be spent on building battery factories for electric vehicles and renewable energy facilities.
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Suzuki’s ultimate goal is to become completely carbon neutral starting with all its domestic factories by 2035. The Hamamatsu plant should reach this target by 2027. In Europe, carbon neutrality is to be achieved by the middle of this century and in India, the plan is for 2070.
