Facing costly and scarce charging options, India’s EV market still struggles, says Maruti Suzuki.
The main barrier to EV adoption in India is no longer range. Maruti Suzuki says modern EVs can travel up to 500 km on a single charge. However, the limited availability and high cost of public charging points continue to deter buyers from choosing them as their primary vehicle.
Company executives noted that despite the EV market’s growth from 2.4% to 4.5% share in recent years, most households still treat electric cars as secondary vehicles. High public charging costs, averaging nearly double the price of home charging, and limited station utilisation have made private investment in charging networks unattractive.
As a result, the segment remains in a ‘chicken-and-egg’ cycle, where low infrastructure discourages adoption, and low adoption deters infrastructure expansion.
Maruti Suzuki is working to set up charging points in 100 cities to improve accessibility, though the company admits that highway coverage is still inadequate. The automaker will also debut its first electric model, the e-VITARA, later this year, aiming to bolster buyer confidence and drive sales.
In addition to EV initiatives, the company is addressing affordability challenges in the entry-level car segment, which has seen a demand drop due to regulatory cost increases. A new financing package will soon enable customers to own an Alto for ₹2,999 per month.
Marking 10 years of its Nexa premium retail network, Maruti Suzuki has also introduced a special Grand Vitara PHANTOM BLAQ edition, featuring a matte black wrap.
