Maruti YMC Electric MPV Spied Up Close: Looks Butch [Video]
Maruti Suzuki is known to be working on their second electric vehicle for the Indian market. The first EV, the eVitara went on sale recently, and has an ex-showroom price of Rs 15.99 lakh here. The second EV will be an electric MPV. Currently codenamed YMC, this vehicle has now been spied testing again. The latest sighting backs our expectations of a late 2026 market launch.
In the latest video, the vehicle is seen parked in a parking lot. Two men open the boot, put some stuff in and close it. Two details can be noticed here. One, the boot seems to have ample space. Secondly, there is no powered tailgate. It has manual operation. Though not clearly visible in the video, this MPV seems to have eVitara-like wheels.
The Instagram page that shared this video calls it the next-generation Ertiga. But there are reasons for us to believe that it is the EV and not the internal combustion Ertiga itself.
First, it has EVitara-like wheels. Secondly, the headlamps, as seen in one of the pictures, resemble those of the electric SUV. Finally, it doesn’t seem to have a proper radiator section or air intakes. The front bumper, however, has air vents, which could be aimed at cooling the floor-mounted battery pack. Similar units can be seen on the eVitara as well.
The images also show the side view of the vehicle. It looks familiar- typical design of Maruti MPVs. The beltline reminds us of the Grand Vitara. We can also see a shark fin antenna in the pictures.
The production-spec YMC is expected to be 4.5 metres in length, and will be based on the same Heartect-e platform as the eVitara. This skateboard platform will ensure that it has a flat floor and a comfortable cabin. Maruti Suzuki is expected to make the YMC’s cabin feature-heavy.
Reports say that the manufacturer would aim to provide ‘couch-like comfort’ inside. Features like a large touchscreen, digital instrument cluster, powered and ventilated seats, panoramic sunroof and more are likely to be included.
The powertrains are also expected to be borrowed from eVitara. If so, the YMC will use the same 49 kWh and 61.1 kWh battery packs. On the electric SUV, the larger unit claims a range of 543km per charge. The electric MPV is expected to get a rear wheel drive (RWD) layout.
Powertrain, platform and component sharing between the eVitara and YMC is expected to improve economies of scale, and keep costs under check. This will enable the manufacturer to give the YMC a sharp pricing. The electric MPV will be manufactured at Maruti Suzuki’s plant in Gujarat. Toyota will also make its badge-engineered version of the YMC at the same facility. There will be a strong focus on exports of both products.
Maruti Suzuki already has a clear leadership in the MPV segment. The YMC aims to take the same into the electric space as well. When launched, it will compete primarily with the Kia Carens Clavis EV. It will likely have a more competitive pricing, as the Kia now starts at Rs 18 lakh, ex-showroom. Three-row electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular in India. If done right, the YMC could capitalize on this demand and become a commercial success.
Other possible rivals of the production-spec YMC will be Mahindra XEV 9S, Vinfast VF MPV7, BYD eMAX7 and the upcoming Tata Safari.EV. The XEV 9S, in particular, is a strong competitor as it sells an average of 3000 units every month.