Toyota enters India's electric vehicle market with Urban Cruiser Ebella

Toyota Kirloskar Motor enters India's EV market with the Urban Cruiser Ebella, a born-electric SUV developed with Maruti Suzuki, as it pursues a multi-technology electrification strategy

Toyota Kirloskar Motor, the Indian arm of the Japanese giant Toyota Motor Corporation, has officially entered the electric vehicle market with the launch of the Urban Cruiser Ebella -- a badge-engineered model sharing its platform with the Maruti Suzuki’s e-Vitara.

 

Toyota and Maruti Suzuki had signed a pact in 2017 to collaborate by combining Toyota’s electrification capabilities with Suzuki’s expertise in compact vehicle technologies. As part of the alliance, the two companies are also engaged in the mutual supply of vehicles across global markets.

 

Toyota said it will continue to follow a multi-technology electrification strategy, including hybrids, rather than set near-term EV targets, arguing that a mix of green powertrains is better suited to India’s decarbonisation needs.

 

Vikram Gulati, country head & executive vice president at Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “This is an opportune time for us to introduce the electric vehicle as the market is picking up. Going ahead, we will continue to explore all green technology options depending upon the consumer requirement. Therefore, it is critical for us to provide as many green technology options as possible which can in turn meet the diverse needs of the consumers.”

 

Toyota has not revealed the price of the electric car. However, it is expected to hit the market in February with the bookings starting on Tuesday.

 

Toyota is sharing its platform with Maruti Suzuki’s e-Vitara.

 

However, Maruti has neither announced the price nor commenced deliveries of the e-Vitara after it was unveiled at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo in January last year. 

Speaking on the logic of sharing a platform, as opposed to coming up with a new model altogether, Gulati said, “The Urban Cruiser Ebella is a born-electric model and not an ICE vehicle re-engineered into a battery electric. The global alliance goes beyond product sharing or cross-badging and focuses on leveraging mutual strengths-- Suzuki’s expertise in small car technology and our capabilities in larger vehicles and electrification.”

 

He also said that together, they both are working to accelerate the pace of electrification, drawing on their combined experience moving forward.

 

With a focus on greener technologies, the company is aiming to achieve full lifecycle carbon neutrality by 2050, covering emissions from manufacturing to the supply chain and not just vehicle tailpipes. Toyota added that the rollout and mix of greener technologies will be market-specific, shaped by local infrastructure readiness, energy mix and consumer demand.

 

According to Federation of Automobile Dealers Association data, Toyota’s domestic sales rose to 3,20,703 units in 2025 from 2,60,591 units in 2024, growing 7 per cent year-on-year. The company’s market share stood at 6.39 per cent.

 

Vahan data shows a sharp and sustained rise in electric four-wheeler registrations over the past years. In 2025, electric four-wheeler registrations surged to 1,70,637 units, almost doubling from 90,587 units in 2024.