铃木将在日本生产轻型EV，维持100万本土产量

Core Viewpoint - Suzuki plans to start domestic production of lightweight electric vehicles (EVs) in Japan by the fiscal year 2026, aiming to maintain a production scale of 1 million vehicles domestically, which is crucial for sustaining the supply chain [2][5]. Group 1: Production Plans and Strategy - Suzuki will begin producing lightweight EVs at its Kakegawa plant in Shizuoka Prefecture in the fiscal year 2026, with specific launch dates and pricing yet to be announced [4]. - The company has historically viewed a domestic production target of 1 million vehicles as essential for supply chain stability, but production has frequently fallen below this threshold in the past decade [5]. - To counteract the decline in domestic sales of lightweight vehicles, which have dropped by 18% from 2015 levels, Suzuki is increasing production in India, which has become a key export base [5]. Group 2: Market Context and Challenges - The overall sales of lightweight vehicles in Japan are projected to decline by 18% to approximately 1.56 million units by 2024, compared to 2015, which is a larger drop than the 9% decline in regular vehicle sales [5]. - The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted Suzuki's sales, bringing them to a 30-year low in 2021, although there is a current recovery trend [5]. - The shift in production strategy is also influenced by rising inflation and high tariffs, prompting Japanese automakers to reconsider their domestic production models [6].