EXCLUSIVE: Suzuki Burgman Electric Launch Delayed Until 2024

The Japanese manufacturer’s move seems to be the result of recent incidents of EVs catching fire in the country

In an exclusive interview with BikeDekho, Satoshi Uchida (Managing Director, Suzuki Motorcycles India) and Devashish Handa (Executive Vice President, Suzuki Motorcycles India) have revealed that the Japanese manufacturer has delayed its EV plans until 2024.

This comes as a surprise considering that the Suzuki Burgman Electric has already been spotted testing multiple times in Delhi as well as Pune. However, the company cites that the debut of its first electric two-wheeler for our market has been pushed to improve Suzuki’s battery technology to suit the Indian climate.

This could mean two things. Either the recent incidents of EVs catching fire have forced the bikemaker to conduct more tests, or it could be working on a standardised battery solution.

The fire-catching incidents are now under investigation of Centre for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES), which is an arm of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). With this, the safety regulations are expected to be revamped.

Furthermore, with the government encouraging battery-swapping, bikemakers are already forming alliances with fuel station companies to set up swap stations across the country. Suzuki too might follow suit and equip the Burgman with a swappable battery to bring its purchase cost down.  

Meanwhile, the Burgman Electric’s competitors are having a free run of the market. Hero MotoCorp’s Vida-branded e-scooter will debut in July this year, while Bajaj revealed its ambitious plans for the Chetak EV sub-brand. By the time Suzuki’s EV debuts, the Honda Activa Electric and perhaps even Yamaha’s EV might grace the Indian market.