Suzuki has been making the Swift hybrid since 2016-17 but the Aus Suzuki importers have only decided to import it recently (hence Suzuki above calling its hip pocket)
Some JDM Suzuki Swfts have been imported used from Japan and they seem to be going OK in Aus Of course the chief issue with Hybrids in Aus is cooling the traction battery and Toyota over the past 25 years seems to have mastered that via trial and error.
While NMH traction batteries are less prone to temperature extremes, lithium traction batteries (in PHEVs & BEVs) need special cooling systems in addition to the normal Inverter/Converter/Transaxle cooling system .
Quick charging and discharging (particularly of Lithium Batteries) generates battery heat causing some power loss also; that's why there is a race in new long range battery development to minimise heat, maximise range, maximise durability and lower production cost.
IMO the Chinese will provide the solution within the next 5 years .
In the interim, we'll have lots of cheap Chinese EVs hitting our market due to US prohibitive import tariffs on them.
