Tata Motors, with an extensive range of electric vehicles in its portfolio, is planning to commence production from its new Sanand plant from April 2024. This plant was acquired from Ford India early last year and it is from this manufacturing unit that Tata Motors also produces the ICE versions of Nexon. The Sanand plant which has been acquired from Ford India at Rs 725.7 crore, has a current capacity of 3 lakh units per annum though production capacity can be extended to 4.2 lakh units. Even as the company has announced that production of the Nexon EV will soon commence, Tata Motors also plans launch of the Curvv EV and Harrier EV, all of which will be produced from the same plant. Recent spy shots have captured glimpses of the highly anticipated Tata Curvv, along with the familiar Harrier and Safari models, undergoing testing at the Sanand facility.
Tata Motors' Electric Vision
There is also the Safari EV in the making. All three of these new EV SUVs were spied together recently in Pune. Targeting a 5 percent growth in the passenger vehicle segment, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles MD Shailesh Chandra revealed the timeline for launch of the Curvv EV and Harrier EV. The Curvv EV is planned for launch in Q3/Q4 of CY 2024 while later this year the company will also launch the Harrier EV. Earlier this week the company introduced Punch.ev. It comes in at a competitive pricing of Rs 10.99 lakh to Rs 14.49 lakh, ex-showroom and booking open at Rs 21,000. It competes with the Citroen eC3 and upcoming Hyundai Exter EV and Kia Clavis. Punch.ev is being offered with two battery packs. The standard model gets a 25-kWh battery pack offering a 315 km range while the Long Range (LR) variant sports a larger 35 kWh battery pack with a 421 km range.
Key Points
- Spy Shots and Speculations: The spy shots of the Tata Curvv, Harrier, and Safari undergoing testing at the Sanand Plant have ignited speculation and excitement among automotive enthusiasts.
- Tata Curvv: What to Expect: The Tata Curvv, set to be a flagship electric SUV, is anticipated to bring forth a slew of advanced features and cutting-edge technology.
- The Harrier and Safari Go Electric: While the focus is on the Curvv, the spy shots reveal that Tata is not limiting its electric endeavors to new models alone. The testing of the Harrier and Safari, existing models in Tata's lineup, suggests an electrified future for these popular SUVs.
- Challenges and Opportunities: As Tata Motors prepares its Sanand Plant for the mass production of electric vehicles, challenges and opportunities arise.
Tata Harrier and Safari EVs will be the company’s flagship electric vehicle. Design leaks show off a more futuristic design with extensive exterior updates along with a host of interior features. These include a twin spoke steering wheel, panoramic sunroof, touch based HVAC system, a 360 degree camera and ADAS. Cabin comforts also extend to automatic climate controls, wireless charging, ventilated seating in the front and ambient lighting. Tata Harrier EV and Safari EV will be positioned on the company’s Gen II EV architecture, an improvement over the Gen I platform seen on the Nexon EV. It will likely draw its power via a 60 kWh to 80 kWh battery pack to offer a range of around 500 kms on full charge. Expect prices to be in the Rs 25-35 lakh range upon launch.