Indian automotive giant Tata Motors has launched its first-ever EV hatch, hoping to capture a crucial slice of the extremely competitive small electric car market.
The EV in question is the Tiago, and Tata will sell it in its home market for 849,000 rupees. That converts at today’s rates to around $A16,000, making it the cheapest EV now available in India.
The Tata Tiago EV (stylised as Tiago.ev) is an electric version of the company’s Tiago hatchback.
A total of seven variants will be available across two battery packs (19.2kWh and 24kWh) and two charging options (3.3kW AC and 7.2kW AC).
The Tiago EV comes with two battery options. The 19.2kW variants are aimed at short and frequent city trips with a range of 250 kilometres, estimated under the Modified Indian Driving Cycle (MIDC). Meanwhile, the 24kWh variants offer an MIDC range of 315km for longer daily driving needs.
Based on Tata Motors’ in-house Ziptron technology, the Tiago EV will come with four different charging solutions, though even its DC fast charging maxes out at 50kW and takes 57 minutes to charge from 10% to 80%.
A number of options will also be standard, including for the first time telematics, while the ZConnect app will offer 45 connected car features including remote access to the air conditioning, car location tracking, and smart watch connectivity.
Image Credit: Tata Motors
Special intro price for Tiago EV
Pricing for the Tiago EV will vary dramatically and start at a special introductory price of 849,000 rupees for the first 10,000 customers. These cars will be available only in India and will be ex-showroom vehicles. Further, Tata will set aside 2,000 reservations for current owners of its Nexon EV and Tigor EV.
The introductory pricing of 849,000 rupees is for the XE base model with 19.2kWh battery pack and 3.3kW AC charging option. Introductory prices increase up the seven variants through to the XZ+ Tech LUX, which will be priced to start at 1,179,000 rupees.
Pre-orders will open on October 10 for a down payment of 21,000 rupees.
Image Credit: Tata Motors
Though only drivers in India can order it, the Tiago EV is nevertheless a headline-making launch.
The 849,000 rupees figure converts to pretty much bang-on $US10,000. India’s next most affordable electric vehicle, Tata Motors’ Tigor compact sedan starts at around $US15,000.
It is available in white, grey, plum purple, teal blue and a light blue “mist”.
Cheaper India and China EVs grab attention
Both India and China’s carmakers have reputations for smaller and cheaper cars. The fact that carmakers from both countries are replicating this feat for electric vehicles has already been noted by European rivals.
The introduction of yet another headline-grabbing small and cheap EV should further push global automakers to compete.
“Having pioneered the EV market in India, we have successfully led its growth and penetration over the last couple of years,” said Shailesh Chandra, managing director of Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles and its EV subsidiary.
“We believe ‘now’ is the right time to fast forward the ongoing revolution towards the future of mobility by introducing vehicles that will encourage rapid adoption of EVs.”
Tata says it will begin deliveries of the Tiago EV in January 2023.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.