Suzuki's first electric car will feature a deep Australian flavour

A strong Australian influence will permeate throughout Suzuki’s first global electric car, as the eVX concept was penned by a Melbourne-raised designer.

Speaking to CarsGuide at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show, the Suzuki senior designer wished to remain unnamed, but revealed he grew up in eastern Melbourne suburb of Burwood, and studied Industrial Design at Monash University’s Caufield campus.

However, he did go on the record about more details surrounding the upcoming rival to the Hyundai Kona, Kia Niro, Mazda MX-30 and MG ZS EVs.

“I think there are a lot of B-segment SUVs around the world at the moment, I think it’s a very competitive market,” he said.

“But for us, this will be the first pure electric vehicle that is an SUV that we will launch from Suzuki, and that is important for us, so we didn’t really think about the rivals.

“It is something we did for the company and the reputation of the brand and for brand awareness.

“Of course, we think about competitors, but we do what we do and let them do what they do.”

The eVX concept was penned by a Melbourne-raised designer. (Image: Tung Nguyen)

When asked whether the production version of the eVX would replace an existing nameplate or standalone as a new model, the designer said the EV’s sizing actually makes it the largest model in Suzuki’s line-up.

“Length-wise it is probably one of the biggest in our line-up,” he said.

“It will be the replacement of maybe Vitara, maybe S-Cross – we haven’t revealed details about the production.”

And into production it will go next year with an on-sale date of early 2025 in overseas markets.

The Suzuki EV will target a 500km driving range when it makes it to production.

Keep in mind, the production eVX is still yet to be confirmed for Australia, but Suzuki’s local division have been evaluating rival EVs like the Niro and BYD Atto 3 at its Altona facility.

“Early 2025 it will arrive, first in Europe, then goes to India, then Japan, then the rest of the world,” the designer said.

And the Suzuki EV will target a 500km driving range when it makes it to production, which the designer believes is the right amount of distance for a car in this class.

“We’re saying 500km when 100 per cent charged,” he said.

The production eVX is still yet to be confirmed for Australia.

“I think that’s a fair amount of distance for daily use, I mean you can even go for a long trip if you have 500km of range.

“You can have a long-range battery placed in the car, but that means the car gets bigger and heavier and more expensive, so I think 500 is a good balance.”

When pressed on where the production EV will be built, the designer revealed Suzuki is still working out the details, but that India could be an important base.

“We’re still in the process of figuring out how we’re going to build it, where we’re going to build it until when we’re going to build it,” he said.

“We have a huge manufacturing plant in India and we are building a new manufacturing plant in India dedicated to EV platforms, so that might be part of the manufacturing process.”