While in South African markets, India and a number of other Asian markets where Suzuki markets the XL7 and a minivan named the Ertiga, here, except for the Suzuki XL7 that arrived here through personal imports at the end of the first decade of the 2000s, Suzuki has never had a real 7-seater vehicle in the local market. The same can be said of the electric revolution, which seems to have skipped the small manufacturer that offers at most light hybrids. And although it has already presented the new Swift for 2024, it is facing marketing difficulties for some of its models in Europe due to air pollution regulations.
Now, it seems that this story may take an electric turn. It starts with the manufacturing approval of the eVX, an electric crossover in the dimensions of the Vitara as early as the current year, when it will be marketed as the 2025 model. But no less interesting is another model that will share its base and will be introduced a year later.
The model's code name is YMC, and it is set to be based on the 27PL modular platform developed jointly by Suzuki and Toyota, which can accommodate a variety of battery sizes, propulsion systems, and chassis. These models are intended to have batteries of 40 or 60 kWh, the latter expected to offer a range of up to 500 km.
The model is expected to be included in 8 completely new models that the manufacturer is supposed to introduce in the coming years, both under its own Suzuki brand and under Suzuki-Maruti - the Indian-Japanese partnership in one of its largest markets. Three of them are expected to be electric and the rest with gasoline or hybrid engines.
The presentation of the models is part of a program that Suzuki has been required to adhere to for some time now, as its offerings suffer from significant gaps in the clean propulsion field. Until recently, it could rely on emerging markets where air pollution or the demand for electric propulsion was not high on the priority list. However, India is also making efforts to align or at least attempt to align with Western air pollution standards, it is no longer a question of image or marketing - but of being or ceasing to be.
Not all Suzuki models are marketed in Europe, including the 5-door Jimny that we miss so much. But given the shortage of cheap electric vehicles, and the fact that the eVX will be marketed on the continent and with us from 2025, there is a chance that its 7-seat version will also come to us.