Top sources informed TOI that the brand new SUV has been within the works for greater than a yr and shall be a collaborative effort of the product growth, design, engineering and sourcing groups of Toyota in addition to Maruti’s father or mother Suzuki. R&D and part sourcing groups inside Maruti have additionally performed a key half within the growth of the car which is probably going to hit the Indian market by the second half of subsequent yr.
The collaboration between the 2 corporations is probably going to get aggressive, particularly after the Indian authorities introduced a Rs 26,000-crore manufacturing-linked incentive (PLI) scheme targeted solely on electrics and hydrogen-gas cell autos.
“While the original plan of the companies was to look at strong hybrids and other electrified versions (running on both battery and petrol), now the thoughts are being focused around pure electrics and even fuel cells. These are preliminary discussions, and nothing has been finalised as yet. However, it can be said with certainty that it’s a joint future,” one of many sources mentioned.
Talking concerning the premium SUV, the supply mentioned that investments for the car which has been developed floor-up – are estimated at over Rs 1,000 crore. “It’s an ambitious product, and perhaps the first collaborative all-new vehicle that the two companies have developed together.”