Kathmandu. India’s Maruti Suzuki has had to cut the target of producing the ‘E Vitara’ EVX after China stopped the supply of rare minerals.
The company has decided to reduce the production target by two-thirds due to the ban on the export of minerals required for the production of electric motor vehicles.
According to Reuters, the company had initially planned to produce 26,512 units of ‘E Vitara’ between April and September. However, the number has now been reduced to 8,221 units.
Maruti Suzuki Chairman RC Bhargava has said that due to the reserve of rare mineral (rare earth magnet) to last only till July, the production target has been cut. Indian automobile manufacturers are optimistic that China will lift exports.
Rare minerals, including magnets, needed to produce electric vehicles, are used in the manufacture of high-tech equipment.
‘E Vitara’ was launched in January 2024 through an auto show in India. Through this vehicle, Maruti aims to make a strong presence in the electronic market.
Maruti Suzuki has already started exporting this model jeep to the European market. In the domestic market, it was announced that it will start selling from July next year.
The company’s chairman RC Bhargava claimed that the latest crisis will not have an immediate impact on the production or release time frame of e-Vitara.
Maruti Suzuki has launched this 49 kW battery packed jeep in the European market at a price of Rs 3.5 million. Indian consumers are also hopeful that they will be able to buy e Vitara at the same rate.
Maruti Suzuki is a popular brand in the Nepali market. There is a craze for this brand among Nepali consumers as its parts are easily available, fair reselling price is available and it is possible to bring the parts cheaply from the Indian market across the border if the parts are not available for maintenance.
