Maruti Suzuki is gearing up to reveal an all-electric SUV concept at the 2023 Delhi Auto Expo. The automaker is still without a pure EV in its lineup, and has been slow to act on the rapidly growing Indian electric car market. When compared, rival automaker Tata Motors has quickly grabbed a whopping 84 percent EV market share in just under 4 years.
Codenamed YY8, the Maruti EV Concept is expected to be a major highlight at the upcoming motor show. It will provide insights into Maruti Suzuki’s electric vehicle development plans. Further the vehicle is jointly being developed by Maruti Suzuki and Toyota. Unlike products such as the Maruti Grand Vitara and Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, the YY8 SUV for Toyota will be an entirely different version. For Maruti, the electric SUV is expected to be launched around the first quarter of 2025. It will be produced at the company’s Gujarat plant. Being a global product, the electric SUV will be developed for both the domestic and international markets, with around 50 percent of total production to be exported.
Maruti YY8 SUV: Design and Dimensions
The YY8 Concept will look completely different from Maruti’s current lineup, featuring a brand-new and futuristic design language. It will be underpinned by a version of Toyota’s 40 PL global platform.
Being a skateboard architecture platform, where the batteries are laid low and between the wheels, the YY8 will have a bigger battery and a spacious interior. In fact, while it will be around 4.2 meters in length, around the size of a Hyundai Creta, the electric SUV’s wheelbase will be around 2,700 mm, more than even the MG ZS EV.
Maruti YY8 SUV: Battery Tech and Electric Range
Two battery pack options are expected to be available for the Maruti YY8, a 48 kWh and a 59 kWh unit. The former will have an electric range of around 400 kms under standard test conditions while the latter should have close to 500 kms of estimated range.
Maruti will be sourcing the LFP blade cell batteries from Chinese brand BYD. Blade cell technology offers major advantages in weight, range, and packaging. Maruti hopes that the new battery tech will give the YY8 an advantage over its rivals, especially against Tata’s range of EVs, which use traditional LFP cylindrical cells which are not as efficient.
The YY8 will be offered in both two-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions. However, it is not confirmed yet if the AWD model will be launched in the domestic market.
Read Also: Maruti Suzuki YY8 Electric SUV Expected Launch Date Diwali 2024
Maruti YY8 SUV: Price and Launch Date in India
The Maruti YY8 electric SUV and its Toyota cousin are slated to launch in the Indian market between January to February 2025. It is speculated that the automaker is targeting a price range of around Rs 13 lakh - Rs 15 lakh
