Electric outboard motors from 2024
After having been the prerogative of small start-ups, electric motors for pleasure craft are now in the sights of the big engine manufacturers. After Yamaha and Mercury, Suzuki is preparing to enter the field. The Japanese engine manufacturer has announced the release of its first electric marine engine in fiscal 2024. It then plans to launch 5 models by 2030.
A small power strategy
Suzuki explains that it bases its decarbonization strategy for boats on two technological solutions. Electric motors will be used mainly for low-powered boats, primarily for inland waterways on lakes and rivers. The engine manufacturer estimates that electric motors should account for 5% of Marine Division sales by 2030.
For high-powered vehicles, Suzuki relies instead on new carbon-neutral fuels.
A global carbon neutral strategy
These announcements were made as part of a global strategic plan for all of Suzuki's businesses, which aims to be carbon neutral in Japan and Europe by 2050 and in India by 2070. These three markets are the main ones for Suzuki.
In the automotive sector, Suzuki will launch its first 100% electric vehicles in 2023 in Japan and in 2024 in Europe and India. The manufacturer is aiming for 80% electric vehicles in Europe by 2030. In motorcycles, 8 models are expected by 2030.
This strategy involves investment in manufacturing and R&D, where Suzuki will strengthen its partnership with Toyota. Japanese factories are reducing their emissions by producing their own energy. The Hamamatsu plant is aiming for neutrality by 2027, and all the sites in the archipelago should achieve it by 2035.
To achieve this, Suzuki has planned a cumulative investment of 32 billion euros between now and 2030, almost half of which will be spent on electrification.
Suzuki expects consolidated sales of ?32 billion in 2022 and has set a target of ?50 billion in 2030.
