On April 10, Suzuki announced the joint development of a two-stage transmission for electric vehicles (EVs) with Canadian startup Inmotive. This technology is expected to contribute to the commercialization of compact EVs, such as mini cars, by reducing costs while extending cruising range.

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Although the specific models and development schedule have not been disclosed, Suzuki intends to introduce the system to the domestic market, which mainly consists of mini cars, as well as to overseas markets such as India. Suzuki plans to first launch EVs in light commercial vehicles during FY2023 and to begin EV production in India in FY2025.

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Inmotive was established in Toronto, Canada in 2010 and developed its own two-stage transmission, InGear, which can extend the cruising range of EVs by up to 15%.

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Suzuki president Toshihiro Suzuki stated it found Inmotive’s technology "attractive because of its compactness and simplicity. The key to a compact EV is to achieve the necessary cruising range while limiting the amount of battery power installed in order to reduce costs and secure space inside the vehicle.”