Suzuki developing lower-cost ADAS that could reach affordable cars

Suzuki is planning to make core ADAS functions standard across its future India line-up, including affordable cars, as it develops a lower-cost system suited to Indian road conditions. The aim is to offer greater access to accident prevention. “Fitting expensive advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) only to a few luxury cars does not reduce accidents across society,” said Katsuhiro Kato, Suzuki’s chief technology officer, at the company’s recent technology strategy briefing, citing more than 1.77 lakh road accident fatalities in India in 2024.

Proposed system’s cameras and AI tech to eliminate the need for a front radar
Suzuki is also working on lighter bodies designed to protect occupants in crashes

Core ADAS functions to become standard

Kato said Suzuki intends to make safety functions such as automatic emergency braking and lane departure prevention standard, while reserving additional comfort and convenience features for higher variants. The manufacturer describes the approach as “just-right ADAS”, with the system being developed specifically around Indian traffic conditions and the need to keep costs down.

Cameras and AI to eliminate the need for a front radar

Image used for representational purposes only.

To reduce the cost of the system, Suzuki plans to use high-resolution cameras and AI chips while integrating driver and occupant monitoring with ADAS. The proposed setup will also do away with the front radar sensor. The company says it is targeting “major cost reductions” while maintaining “equal or better safety performance”. These are, however, development targets, and Suzuki has not released performance results for a production version of the system.

The manufacturer says it is approaching vehicle safety from two directions: preventing accidents through ADAS and protecting occupants when a crash occurs. Alongside its electronic safety systems, the company is working on lighter vehicle bodies designed to protect occupants in a collision.

New electronic architecture could cut costs

Suzuki’s ADAS plans form part of its wider “SDV Right” strategy, which aims to simplify the electronic architecture of its future vehicles. The manufacturer plans to combine communication, power distribution and body control functions into a Central Zone ECU. It estimates that this controller could cost around 30 percent less and weigh about 15 percent less than its conventional arrangement.

The carmaker has not yet announced which models will get the new ADAS system or when it will be introduced. In the small-car segment, the Baleno is currently Maruti Suzuki’s most affordable model to offer an ADAS suite, which was introduced with its recent facelift. The technology is currently not offered by any of its premium hatchback rivals.

With inputs from Kiran Murali