Maruti Suzuki and Toyota dominate the hybrid market with models like Grand Vitara and Innova HyCross, leveraging hybrid technology over full electrification. Maruti plans to expand its hybrid lineup across popular models, opting for a cost-effective, in-house developed series hybrid powertrain to address cost barriers amidst government tax policies favoring electric vehicles.
The Automotive Industry is constantly evolving with new technology, but more importantly, everyone is charging ahead with electrification of their line-up, but the fact is that the Hybrids are gaining more and more traction among car buyers that its outselling the Electric vehicles. Maruti Suzuki, and Toyota together aren’t rushing into electrifying their line-up, but instead took the other route, and now are ruling the Hybrid category thanks to their offerings – Maruti with Grand Vitara and Invicto; and Toyota with UC Hyryder and Innova HyCross.
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With the Hybrids emerging has a strong contender or strong alternate option for the EVs, it only makes sense to offer this tech and setup for other models in their line-up. Maruti has been dependent on the Toyota’s renowned Hybrid powertrain which constitutes to around 15 – 20% of the total Grand Vitara sales in 2023. Furthermore, with the introduction of Toyota Innova HyCross-based Invicto MPV in 2023, and an upcoming three-row version of the Grand Vitara is slated for 2025 launch, Maruti Suzuki is expanding its hybrid offerings.
The major development is Maruti’s ambitious plans to dramatically increase hybrid volumes by introducing offerings in mass-market segments. This strategy involves developing Hybrid variants of some of its popular models like the Fronx, Swift, Baleno, Brezza, and a compact MPV, all currently in development. Notably, the company is routing for an in-house developed series hybrid powertrain, codenamed “HEV”; instead of Toyota’s series parallel hybrid system, aiming for an cost-effective solution.
Maruti Suzuki’s series hybrid powertrain is poised to be significantly more economical to produce compared to other hybrid configurations, addressing the challenge of high production costs associated with incorporating an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE), electric motor, and battery. Moreover, with the government’s reluctance to provide tax benefits to Hybrids, coupled with steep GST rate of 43% versus the 5% for the EVs, Maruti’s choice of a series hybrid aims to mitigate cost barriers effectively.
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Source – Autocar India