Do you still recall the tiny Omni that has dominated the roads of India for quite a long time? Sometime back it was the only car in circulation throughout the country. Whether it was a matter of taking the family for a trip, carrying luggage, or needing a car for business – Omni was always there.

Omni was famous for its great space, strength and economical Maruti Omni mileage and was dominating the Indian roads for more than 35 years. But now the times are changing. Electric vehicles are also ruling the car world as well. So, are you curious to know that your favourite maruti van electric car is coming back? That too in a completely new style, in an maruti omni electric avatar! Let us know in this blog how the electric Omni can be, what will be the special features of the Omni in the market and how it can be the right step for the future.

Brief History of Maruti Omni

Maruti Omni was launched in 1984 when Maruti Suzuki Omni was just entering the market in India. Originally, it was known as the maruti electric omni Van. It was introduced to the market after the Maruti 800 model had been successful in the market.

The unique feature of the Omni appeared to be as simple as it seemed to be but it was rather quite practical. It was used by families when they wanted to travel and also by businessmen to transport small goods. It was even used as an ambulance and a CNG taxi.

First, the Omni’s design and its engine were very simple and modest. It got its first makeover in 1998, approximately 10 years later. The looks of the front part of the car were modified while the rest of the engine and so on remained the same.

Over time, more models of the Omni were rolled out with slight modifications done to them. In sum, the Omni was a car that went well in India and catered for the needs of the people.

Why Bring Back Maruti Omni in Electric Version?

There can be various factors for resurrecting Maruti Omni, let alone an electric vehicle. Let’s see:

• Return of the old favourite: Many people use Omni mainly for family and small businesses. They confirmed that it was a very economical and practical car. The same reliability and economy can therefore be brought back by making it electric.
• Less pollution: Today everyone wants to conserve the environment. Petrol vehicles are bad for the environment while electric vehicles are not. I believe making Omni electric will go a long way in cutting down pollution.
• Government rules: Tight safety measures have been instituted on cars. Since the old Omni could not meet these rules, it was discontinued. Thus, making it an electric vehicle opens up opportunities to meet new safety standards.
• Old design, new style: The design of the old Omni may have been rather bland and cubic, but it got the job done very effectively. The same design can be returned with some modifications based on new technology such as LED lights and other features.

Features of the Electric Version of the Maruti Omni

As for now, the maruti omni new model 2024 electric car has not been officially released in the market, but it has become a hot topic. Some people liked its earlier design; Therefore, there could be a possibility that the carmaker may introduce it in the maruti omni electric conversion. If this happens, then how will this electric Omni be, let’s see:

• Eco-Friendly: The biggest one will be that this car will not be dependent on petrol or diesel but on electricity. This means that pollution will be minimized and costs will be cut on fuel.
• Good Range: As for the driving range of this car, it can be assumed that it will be from 200 to 300 km per charge. This will be a very good range for the city.
• More Seats: Like the old Omni, its speciality will also be that at least 7 to 8 people can sit in it very easily.
• Some Changes: Perhaps, there will be some alterations in the appearance of the car. The front grill and lights may probably be of the new type.
• New Features: The new car may have a music system with a touch screen or parking sensor which is not available in the old car.

This is just an estimate, only the company will reveal how the new omni electric car will be in actuality.

Potential Challenges and Opportunities

1. Challenges for Maruti Omni

• New technology: Building maruti omni electric car is not as same as those of petrol cars and thus, the need for new technology. It might not happen very soon that Maruti Suzuki fully masters the art.
• Battery cost: The biggest and arguably most important expense for electric vehicles is their battery. To achieve this, Maruti will have to put efficient batteries in the car at a cheap maruti omni electric price in India to ensure that the overall cost of the vehicle is not affected.
• Charging station: The infrastructure for charging points is still absent in the country although the use of electric cars is in its initial stage. It may not be limited to this, but Maruti Suzuki may also have to consider deploying charging stations at its dealers or any other place.

2. Potential in New Application Areas of Electric Vehicles

• Petrol-diesel prices: It is for the information of the general public and consumers of petroleum products that the prices of petrol and diesel are rising. Some may prefer cars that cost much less to maintain and operate, like EVs.
• Less pollution: In this case, one needs to understand that electric vehicles do not cause any pollution once on the road. There are a lot of adverse effects of air pollution to the environment and one of them can be solved by electric vehicles.
• Government help: Now for electric vehicles, the government is providing subsidies and making it easier to get loans. This in turn makes electric vehicles cheaper and more accessible to the people.

3. A government initiative and subsidy

• FAME India Yojana: The government provides incentives to acquire electric vehicles. This leads to a lower cost of vehicles and in a way facilitates access to car ownership for many individuals.
• Initiative to build charging stations: The government seems to be struggling with the process of establishing charging stations in various parts of the country. Increased market access means that more people will be able to cover long distances riding in electric cars.
• Discount on loan: Some banks are offering rebates in terms of interbank rates on credit Extended for the purchase of electric cars. This makes it easier to finance electric vehicles.

Comparison with Other Electric Vehicles in the Market

• Pricing and Affordability

It has also been rumoured that the Maruti Omni price can be substantially lower than that of other electric cars. I think it can be cheaper for more people.

This means that many more people will be able to afford this vehicle if at all its Maruti Suzuki Omni price stays low. This may help put electric vehicles into the hands of the masses as is the case of many a car manufacturing firm today.

• Performance and Specifications

People do not yet know to what extent the Electric Omni is going to be powerful. However, the idea is to have enough power to be able to navigate the vehicle within the city roads.

Again because it is an electric vehicle it will not produce any form of noise during the race and will also be very smooth to operate. Some of the intended features that many electric vehicles possess include the regenerative braking that charges the battery whenever the vehicle slows down. To the best of the author’s knowledge, it is still unclear whether this feature is going to be in Electric Omni or not.

• Target Audience and Competitive Positioning

It is possible to design this automobile for families, who reside in cities, and for small businesspeople and fleet owners. The low cost, additional space, and ecological advantages of the model make it worth evaluating.

Future of Electric Maruti Omni

Today there are discussions about the return of Maruti Omni, but it is still a question when it will appear as an electric car. It is expected that it will be launched by 2025. Let’s see what the Omni in the maruti omni electric version can be like and what its future is going to be:

1. Expected Benefits

• Advantage of popularity: The first Omni had been sold in India for several years. Some of them appreciated it for its strength and stability. Perhaps this legacy may also be useful for the electric Omni.
• Useful for family and business: Omni was always a car with more seats. It is expected that it will be retained in the electric version of the car as well. It will be better for seating more people or carrying luggage.
• Environment friendly: It will not pollute like petrol-diesel vehicles because it is an electric vehicle. It will also assist in maintaining cleanliness in the environment.

2. Possible Challenges:

• Competition: The market for electric vehicles is already on fire. Tata and Mahindra, for example, are selling many electric vehicles. It will not be very difficult for Maruti to challenge them.
• Price: However, if the Maruti Omni’s on-road price is high, then people can go for other electric vehicles. The company will have to maintain such a omni car price whereby the price will be affordable to people.
• Range: One very big disadvantage of electric vehicles is that they have a limited range of travel. It is felt that people have to charge the vehicle again and again. Thus, Maruti will have to make sure that the range of Omni is good.

Conclusion

It can be stated that the electric version of Maruti Omni is anticipated to create a buzz in the Indian EV market. It is coming as an electric vehicle but with the bonus of the Omni elements such as a reliable product, even more space, and an attainable price.

For it to become successful for Maruti there are issues such as the range and number of charging stations. If managed well, these challenges depict that this electric vehicle which reminds our childhood can dominate Indian roads in future. Explore our latest information on electric vehicles and sustainable transportation on EV Hexa.

Disclaimer: The data presented in this blog are sourced from the media and are, therefore, only estimations. To the author’s knowledge, the company has not released any information about the date of release, cost, or function of the electric Omni to the public. Currently, this blog will be updated when new information is released.

FAQs

1. Are we going to see an electric Omni?

Here, Maruti Suzuki has not revealed the time yet, but going by the reports, the electric Omni is expected to roll by 2025.

2. Being an electric vehicle, will the electric Omni be cheap to run?

Yes! Electric cars are even more affordable to maintain compared to petrol or diesel-powered vehicles.