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Maruti e-Vitara for Rs 10.99 lakh? How cheap is BaaS model, how will it affect your pocket?

By Samira Vishwas

Maruti e-Vitara 543 Km Range: The country’s largest car manufacturer Maruti Suzuki launched its first mass-market electric SUV Maruti e‑Vitara Has been launched. This five-seater EV comes with Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model. The starting price has been kept at Rs 10.99 lakh, while Rs 3.99 per kilometer will have to be paid separately for the battery. The company claims that this will make electric mobility within the reach of common families, but is it really so?

Nexa Edge Package: Free Charger and Public Charging

The vehicle has been introduced with the Nexa Edge ownership package. Customers will get a free 7.4 kW home wall charger including installation. Also, in the first year, up to 1,000 units of public charging will be given complimentary, which can be used through the app. Bookings open both online and showroom with a token amount of Rs 21,000. The initial offers are said to be valid till March 31, 2026.

Resale value guarantee

The company assures up to 60% buyback value after 3 years and 50% buyback value after 4 years/60,000 km. That is, the claim of getting 50-60% of the amount back even after running it for 3-4 years can be a big assurance for the middle class.

Battery and range: how powerful?

The e-Vitara comes with two battery options 49 kWh and 61 kWh. The larger pack is said to be capable of delivering a range of up to 543 km in test conditions. Both the batteries are being given a warranty of 8 years or 1,60,000 km (whichever is completed first). The company also claims to have 1,500+ EV-ready service centers in the network.

What is the BaaS model and what is the actual cost?

In BaaS the battery is not included in the price of the car; Customer pays as per usage. At Rs 3.99/km, if an urban user drives an average of 3,000 km/month, then approximately Rs 12,000 will have to be paid extra. Even driving 60 km daily (about 1,800 km/month) earns about Rs 7,200 monthly.

Many experts consider it a ‘battery loan’ rather than a subscription. As they believe. Interest and terms can increase the total expense over a long period of time. Therefore, it is important to understand the mathematics of EMI and tenure before purchasing.

Also read: Now every youth will become a technology leader, win in India AI Impact Summit and get a prize of up to Rs 25 lakh

The truth about free charger and public charging

Home charger is said to be priced at Rs 50,000, whereas chargers of similar capacity are available in the market for Rs 20,000-35,000. That means actual savings may be limited. Public charging is also not unlimited, but up to 1,000 units in the first year.

Debate on price, expectations remain

People were expecting affordable EV from Maruti which has about 40% share in the domestic market. The e-Vitara has already been launched in overseas markets and is said to be targeting exports to 100+ European countries. However, some experts consider its price to be a bit high for the Indian market. Clearly the headline price of Rs 10.99 lakh is attractive, but take a decision only after considering the total expenditure with BaaS.

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