Ultra-affordable electric cars are set to launch in India.
Once famous for launching the world's cheapest car, Tata Motors will introduce its new line of electric vehicles and promises attractive pricing.
On World Electric Vehicle Day 2022, Tata Motors announced the addition of a new product to its electric vehicle lineup – the Tiago EV. The vehicle is expected to be available in the Indian market in the coming months.
The Tiago EV was first unveiled as a concept at an event in the UK and later at the Indian Motor Show, positioned below the Tigor EV. Based on exterior images, the Tiago EV has similar dimensions and front-end lines to the Mitsubishi Mirage, while the rear resembles the Hyundai Grand i10.
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The Tata Tiago EV Concept at the 2018 Indian Auto Show. Photo: Indian Auto Blog |
Shailesh Chandra, head of Tata Motors' passenger car division, said the company plans to launch 10 electric vehicle models in different segments, differing in body style and price point.
There are no official specifications for the Tata Tiago EV yet. The car may share the same chassis platform and engine as its "older sibling," the Tigor EV, which is already on the market.
Tata Motors offers three engine options for the Tigor EV and Tigor X-Press T EV (service vehicle).
First is the standard version with 41 horsepower and 105Nm of torque, along with two battery options - a 16.5kWh battery giving the vehicle a range of 165 km per charge and a 21.5kWh battery giving the vehicle a range of 213 km per charge in the Tigor X-Press T EV service version.
Meanwhile, the Ziptron version is only available on the Tigor EV model for individual customers, using a 75-horsepower electric motor with 170Nm of torque. This version uses a 26kWh lithium-ion battery pack with fast charging support and gives the car a range of 306 km on a single charge.
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Tiago EV will likely share its engine with Tigor EV. Photo: Car Trade |
Interestingly, the Tigor EV has a split battery pack, with one part located in the trunk. It is currently unclear whether Tata Motors will adopt this design for the Tiago EV.
The price has not yet been revealed, but positioned below the Tigor EV, the Tiago EV could become the cheapest electric vehicle on the Indian market.
The Tigor EV is currently the cheapest electric car in India, priced at 1.22 million Rupees (approximately 362 million VND). Not long ago, Mumbai-based electric vehicle startup PMV Electric announced it would launch the EaS-E microcar, which would be half the price – starting at 400,000 Rupees (approximately 120 million VND). However, no further details have been released since then.
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The Tiago EV is part of Tata Motors' plan to strengthen its presence in the electric vehicle market. Photo: Drive Spark |
Tata Motors is a well-known Indian brand of affordable cars, which shocked the automotive industry in 2008 when it unveiled the world's cheapest car – the Tata Nano, priced at just 100,000 Rupees, equivalent to $2,000 at the exchange rate at the time.
Despite being fairly well-made and having a decent design, the Nano failed to transform the face of transportation in India. The problem lay in how it was initially introduced and promoted, and the company's inability to maintain its momentum.
Shortly after the Nano's launch, several car fires occurred, severely damaging the brand's image. Once the initial excitement about the world's cheapest car subsided, people became more critical of the Nano.
Car fires, along with some quality issues and the label "world's cheapest car," meant very few people wanted to buy the Nano. Later, the technical problems were resolved, and the car underwent several upgrades, adding newer, more upscale versions aimed at younger buyers. However, sales did not improve, and ultimately, the Tata Nano was discontinued in 2018.
