Maruti Suzuki India on Wednesday questioned the rationale behind the government's move to hike customs duty on imported electric vehicles, saying it isn't easy to localise in a short period.
The company, which earlier planned to launch an electric vehicle (EV) based on WagonR this year, is reviewing the decision as it is finding it difficult to bring EV to the market at an affordable price.
"I don't understand, why. Why they are increasing the tax?," Maruti Suzuki India Managing Director and CEO Kenichi Ayukawa told PTI when asked about the hike in customs duty on imported EVs, as announced in the Budget.
He further said, "We have to localise but the point is that it is not easy to localise in short-term basis."
On company's plans to bring a mass market EV, Ayukawa said, "We are reviewing it now. At this moment it is not easy to bring an affordable priced EV."