Auto Expo 2025 to see highest number of EV rollouts; Maruti, Hyundai, Tata, JSW MG gear up to showcase zero-emission cars

Maruti Suzuki, which lords over the domestic PV market, is all set to launch its maiden EV offering based on the EVX Concept car

Auto Expo 2025 will see the highest number of electric vehicle (EV) rollouts, as carmakers such as Maruti, Hyundai, Tata, JSW MG, etc., gear up to showcase zero-emission models at the marquee biennial event.

The Auto Expo 2025, which is scheduled to be held from January 17 to 2022 in Delhi-NCR, will see the highest number of product launches and unveils in the Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) segment such as Maruti Suzuki’s maiden e-car (based on EVX Concept), Hyundai e-Creta, Ioniq6 and mass-market EV, Tata Sierra EV & Altroz EV, BYD Seagull, MG Bingo, Mercedes Benz EQG, among others, according to sources.

Electric cars are expected to be launched by the top seven passenger vehicle manufacturers — Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Motor India, Tata Motors, JSW MG Motor, Kia India, Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) — sources said.

The next edition of Automobile Exposition, which comes under the aegis of Bharat Mobility Summit and organised by the government, will be held concurrently with the Auto Component show at Yashobhoomi in Dwarka.

Carmakers up the EV ante
Maruti Suzuki, the biggest carmaker in India, is all set to launch its first EV offering at the Expo. To be priced above Rs 10 lakh, the unnamed car can purportedly operate up to 500 kilometres (km) per charge.

“We aren’t just going to launch our first e-car at the Bharat Mobility Summit, 2025, but are also going to create an EV ecosystem,” Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing & Sales, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, told reporters recently. He hinted that the car will be positioned in the mid-SUV (sports utility vehicle) segment.

India’s second-largest carmaker, Hyundai Motor India Limited, is gearing up for the launch of the electric variant of Creta SUV and the Ioniq 6 premium EV, which is estimated to be priced at around Rs. 65 lakh. The company is also deliberating on showcasing the concept version of mass-market EV, which is being customised for the Indian market, a source said.

Another source said Hyundai Inster — the closest rival of the Tata Punch EV in the micro-electric SUV segment — is likely to be showcased at the event.

However, a Hyundai spokesperson refrained from making any “comment on future products & technologies”.

Tata Motors, which currently leads the domestic electric passenger vehicle (PV) market, is also planning a series of BEV offerings across various price points. The products that are expected to be unveiled or launched at the upcoming auto show are Tata Altroz EV, Tata Harrier EV and Tata Sierra EV, sources said. Speculation is also rife that the production version of Tata Avinya concept will be showcased along with its British subsidiary’s new Range Rover Electric.

However, a Tata Motors spokesperson deflected the launch details.

M&M — another homegrown carmaker — is also considering showcasing its series of EVs that it had already unveiled earlier such as XUV.e8 — the electric variant of XUV7OO — Born Electric concept cars such as BE09, BE.05, BE Rall-E and XUV.e9. While the company will be announcing the prices of XUV.e8 during early 2025, it is tight-lipped about its participation at the Expo.

"We haven’t taken any decision on the matter yet,” an M&M spokesperson told Moneycontrol.

JSW MG Motor India, which has already launched a couple of EVs in the last two years, is on course to launch Bingo. To be positioned between Comet and Windsor, the five-door e-hatchback will be priced in the range of Rs 8.5-10.5 lakh, Bingo is seen as a direct competition against Tata Tiago.ev.

A JSW MG Motor India spokesperson refused any comment on the company’s plans for the event.

Kia India may also showcase the concept mass-market EV at the expo, despite a lack of official communication from the South Korean carmaker.

The company didn’t respond to queries sent by Moneycontrol.

Vietnamese EV manufacturer VinFast Auto Limited, which will be participating for the first time at the Expo, will be displaying VF6, VF7, VF8, and VF9 at the event. However, a pure electric mini e-SUV, which is tailor made for the Indian market, is unlikely to be unveiled at the Expo, as per a source privy to the company’s plans.

The official spokesperson said, “VinFast confirms its participation in the event and will showcase its diverse, modern, and intelligent electric vehicles to the market. Further details will be announced in due course of time.”

BYD, the only Chinese carmaker to participate at the event, will be unveiling its least priced model, Seagull. Expected to be launched later next year, the e-hatchback will be priced under Rs 10 lakh in India.

"We are excited to be part of the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025. As a global leader in electric mobility, we continue to focus on the premium and luxury EV segment, offering eco-friendly solutions that align with India's sustainability goals. In line with our company policy, we will not be able to comment on new product launches at this juncture,” a BYD India spokesperson told Moneycontrol.

In the luxury car segment, Mercedes -Benz India is gearing up to launch the EQG, the electric avatar of G-Wagon, at around Rs. 3.5 crore. It is also expected to unveil the EQC e-SUV, which is expected to be launched next year.

There is a possibility of the reveal of Concept EV EQXX, which delivers 1,000 km on a single charge and is being unveiled in other markets, sources said.

A Mercedes-Benz spokesperson said the company is still evaluating the prospects of its participation.

In the two-wheeler segment, Honda has confirmed that it will be launching its maiden electric scooter.

As per S&P Global Mobility, the Indian government mandates original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to adopt a technology-agnostic trajectory, with the ultimate ambition of decarbonising mobility across the nation.

Puneet Gupta, director at S&P Global Mobility, said, “Powertrain Pluralism will be the theme of Auto Expo 2025. While eEVs will take centrestage, the event is likely to unveil concepts and products showcasing a spectrum of multi-fuel technologies with focus on Electric and Hybrid (PHEV & HEV).”

He added, "The surge in EV launches by top OEMs will bring India closer to the inflection point, which is around 5 per cent.”