Auto Expo 2025: An EV Mahakumbh Is Upon Us

Three locations. Nine concurrent shows. Over 200,000 square metres of exhibition area. More than 1,500 exhibitors. And half a million visitors, at least. Essentially, India’s entire mobility value chain is coming under one umbrella from 17-22 January.

But it’s the electric vehicles that will stand out—for they will be made in India, for the world.

Three locations. Nine concurrent shows. Over 200,000 square metres of exhibition area. More than 1,500 exhibitors. And half a million visitors, at least. Essentially, India’s entire mobility value chain is coming under one umbrella from 17-22 January.

But it’s the electric vehicles that will stand out—for they will be made in India, for the world.

What were concepts in the previous edition of the auto expo, are production-ready now.

Every automaker worth their weight in steel and rubber is showcasing at least one electric vehicle at the biennial event. But the biggest attractions would be the offerings by Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., Hyundai Motor India Ltd. and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.—the industry heavyweights are slated to show their first electric cars to the public.

Maruti Suzuki eVitara: In 1983, Maruti imported and localised the Suzuki SS80 as the Maruti 800 for India. In 2025, Maruti is now making an electric car for the world. 

The eVitara is based on the 'eVX' concept that was showcased at the 2023 Auto Expo in New Delhi. Production of the electric SUV will commence at Suzuki Motor Gujarat’s factory in February 2025. The electric SUV is expected to go on sale in Europe, Japan and India by June.

At 4,275 mm length, 1,800 mm width and 1,635 mm height, the eVitara is a smidge smaller than the India-spec Grand Vitara, which rivals the likes of the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos in the midsize SUV segment. The electric SUV is built on the ‘HEARTECT-e’ platform that forms the underpinnings of several Suzuki cars, including the Swift hatchback.

Additionally, Maruti Suzuki is building an ecosystem for electric mobility in India. Called ‘e For Me’, the initiative outlines a comprehensive plan that integrates electric cars, charging infrastructure and the underlying layer of technology.

Hyundai Creta Electric: The SUV-fication of the car industry is, in a way, attributable to the Hyundai Creta. The electrification can be its doing as well.

“I think Creta EV is providing everything,” Tarun Garg, chief operating officer at the India unit of the South Korean carmaker, said recently. Customers have been looking for a very strong brand from proven automakers for large-scale adoption of electric cars.  

Garg believes Creta’s brand equity will play a large part here.

Hyundai India has sold a total of 11 lakh Creta SUVs since launch in mid-2015, including 1.87 lakh units last year to emerge as India’s No.5 car by volume. The Creta Electric—to be made available in at least two variants—has a range of 390-473 km and charges from 10% to 80% in less than an hour. The car will be made in Chennai, for the world.

To be sure, Hyundai India has been hard at work building the ecosystem for Creta Electric and whatever follows. The company, along with sister brand Kia Motor Co., has tied with Exide Industries Ltd. for the localisation of battery cells in India. At least 10,000 charging points have been mobilised through an app. Eighty fast-chargers have been installed at 30 locations along some of India’s busiest highways.

Hyundai India won’t stop at the Creta in the mass-market.

“I am not commenting exactly on which variant, which model will come but we are looking at the entire range. We are looking at all kinds of segments,” Garg had said previously. “We are looking at ‘Creta minus’ as well as ‘Creta plus’ segments.”

At the Auto Expo, expect the Korean carmaker to show the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 9 and the Staria.

Mahindra BE 6 and EV 9e: India’s largest SUV maker by revenue has thrown down a gauntlet of sorts at its larger rivals with the launch of its BE 6 and XEV 9e by bringing in luxury features in a mass-market price point—Rs 18.9 lakh to Rs 30.50 lakh.

“We want to democratise the technology,” Veejay Nakra, president (auto) and Mahindra & Mahindra, recently said. “We want to take these game-changing features to as many customers as possible.”

At the Auto Expo 2025, expect M&M to show its BE 6 and XEV 9e, as well as more members of the family—including the BE 5 and XEV 7e.

Tata Motors: In Fiscal 2024, Tata Motors’ EV business became a billion-dollar enterprise and accounted for three out of four electric cars sold in India. Such was the confidence that in August last year, Tata Motors entered the lucrative mid-size SUV segment with an electric powertrain. 

But the going has been rough since then. In 2024, Tata Motors grew its sales by a mere 2.32% and lost 10 percentage points of market share—from 72.68% in 2023 to 62.01%.

Surely, Tata Motors isn’t sitting on its haunches, watching its leadership erode away.

The maker of India’s best-selling car is likely to showcase at least three new electric SUVs at the Auto Expo 2025—including the Harrier.ev, Safari.ev and a brand new nameplate in the Tata Sierra. Rumours are also swirling of the return of Tata Sumo.

Noteworthy Mentions: Apart from the Indian heavyweights, Chinese and Vietnamese electric carmakers are likely to make their presence felt at the auto expo.

• Vietnam’s Vinfast, which recently commenced manufacturing operations at Chennai, is slated to show at least three electric cars—the VF7, VF9 and the VF3.

• Byd Co. of China is expected to showcase at least one new model in the Sealion 7, as well as its current India line-up of BYD Seal, Atto 3 and eMax 7.

• Germany’s Porsche and Mercedes-Benz are likely to show Macan EV, and G580 and Maybach EQS 680.

• JSW MG Motor India, which recently launched the Windsor EV to immediate success, is showing at least six new models, including the Cyberster. 

To be sure, India’s EV market is at an inflection point of sorts. Sales of electric cars rose by nearly a fifth to almost a lakh units last year, while those of electric two-wheelers grew by a third to become a million-unit industry. The Auto Expo, then, is but a launch pad for the electrification that is to follow.