Unews World
NEW DELHI: If 2024 was all about doubts around EV adoption, 2025 is set to witness a blitzkrieg of electrics, with green cars slated to come across price points. And, nearly all of them are SUVs.
India will make one of its strongest push towards EVs with almost all carmakers – ranging from late-to-enter Maruti Suzuki, close rival Hyundai, to luxury sellers Mercedes and Audi, to local heavyweights Mahindra and Tata Motors and Chinese giant BYD – driving in green cars. The launches will take place, despite growing doubts around mass adoption and an inadequate charging infrastructure.
Elon Musk’s Tesla may also tease the market with certain models through import route, as reports say the brand is scouting for retail locations here.
With govt pushing hard for clean mobility, especially over concerns around pollution and growing fuel import bill, companies are set to respond with full force as they race against time to adhere to new fleet emission norms that stipulate heavy penalties for those polluting more than prescribed limits. Although, those running on petrol, diesel, petrol-battery (hybrids) or petrol-CNG will also see new launches, their party will be dwarfed by electrics this year.
Most of the EV action will begin mid-Jan, with ovt- and industry-organised Bharat Mobility Auto Show set to see a flurry of unveilings. Among the most-anticipated will be debut of Maruti Suzuki in electrics. The company will finally launch pure Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) in eVitara. The vehicle promises a range upwards of 500km and may cost over Rs 15 lakh. Maruti officials claim that their EV strategy will be ‘much different’ from others.
Mahindra, which had always been among the biggest force behind promoting EVs, will launch some of its most-advanced electrics in 2025. Hyundai will also unveil a mainstream electric in Creta EV.
For Tata, the biggest player in EV market so far, 2025 will again be a year of electrics. It is expected to bring Sierra SUV in both electric and ICE versions, while also planning Harrier electrics and possibly the Safari. All the cars will be priced upwards of Rs 20 lakh.
And if showstoppers are anything to go by, then the Mercedes G580 electric G, which is already quite a sensation online through its 360-degree ‘G-Turn Ballet’, will also be launched in India this year, making the multi-crore SUV one of the most powerful and aspirational electrics in the country.
Coming back to the mainstream, JSW MG, which is also expanding in electrics, will drive in the Cyberster sports car and the Mifa MPV in India this year, retailing them through a new ‘Select’ store concept.
BYD, the enigmatic Chinese maker which is currently selling in India through the import route, is likely to launch two new brands in India. It is expected to launch the Denza N9 plug-in hybrid and the Bao 3 electric in the country this year, complementing its range of Seal electric sedan, and the Atto 3.
Audi will get the Q6 e-tron SUV, and the RS e-tron GT, strengthening its green portfolio, while its VW group brand Skoda will drive in the Enyaq.
On the petrol/diesel hybrid side, there will be some launches, notable among them being the Kia Syros which comes in petrel and diesel versions now (as was announced at its unveiling recently). The Syros will also have an electric version in about a year.
Tata Motors will likely drive the Safari and Harrier in petrol, while Nissan – struggling at the moment in India – may get its legendary Patrol SUV to India.
BYD will also debut in the hybrid space with the Denza N9 plug-in hybrid, while Mercedes will drive in the powerful CLE53 AMG, and Audi the RSQ8 SUV.
