Suzuki Australia has appointed Ohme as its exclusive home EV charging partner as the brand prepares to introduce the e VITARA, its first battery-electric vehicle, through Australian dealerships.
The partnership will see Suzuki recommend Ohme chargers to customers looking for a home charging solution, with chargers displayed through the dealer network and Ohme providing installation, dealer training and ongoing support.
For fleet and novated lease customers, the arrangement is another example of vehicle manufacturers looking beyond the vehicle itself and making charging part of the purchase and delivery process.
Ohme already works with Suzuki in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and the Australian agreement extends that relationship as Suzuki enters the local EV market.
Matthew Evans, Head of Mobility at Ohme Australia, said the goal was to provide customers with support from the charger itself through to installation and ongoing service.
“We’re delighted to announce this new collaboration with Suzuki,” Evans said.
“This partnership is about giving Suzuki dealers and their customers a home charging experience that’s genuinely best in class.”
The partnership is particularly relevant as more employers and fleet operators allow electric vehicles to be charged at employees’ homes, whether through novated leasing, salary-packaged vehicles or company cars.
Providing a coordinated charging option through the dealer can remove one of the practical hurdles facing drivers making the switch to an EV, particularly when installation, electricity tariffs and charging schedules are unfamiliar.
Michael Pachota, General Manager at Suzuki Australia, said the e VITARA represented an important step for the brand’s Australian EV strategy.
“As Suzuki’s first ever electric car, the introduction of e VITARA marks an important step in Suzuki’s future EV offering in Australia,” Pachota said.
“Our partnership with Ohme will play an important role in supporting our customers as we enter this new era of electrification.”
The e VITARA will be available with 49kWh and 61kWh battery options, with buyers able to choose between front-wheel drive and Suzuki’s ALLGRIP E four-wheel-drive system.
Ohme’s smart-charging platform also supports solar integration and can schedule charging for periods when electricity prices are lower or renewable generation on the grid is higher.
That capability can be useful for fleet operators trying to reduce both EV running costs and emissions, particularly where employees are charging fleet vehicles overnight at home.
Ohme already has a fleet connection in Australia through its partnership with SG Fleet, where it is the official home EV charging partner in both Australia and the UK.
As more manufacturers bring EVs into Australian showrooms, partnerships such as Suzuki’s deal with Ohme suggest the competition will increasingly extend beyond range and vehicle specification to the broader ownership ecosystem — including how easily drivers can get a charger installed, manage energy costs and keep their vehicle ready for work.
