Tata Tiago.EV Becomes India’s FASTEST Selling Electric Car: 50K Sold In 21 Months
The Tiago.EV has yielded Tata Motors another sales milestone by becoming the country’s fastest-selling electric car. The EV hatchback posted sales of 50,000 units in just 21 months from launch. Tata Motors launched the Tiago.EV in September 2022.
The hatchback got massive attention and soon became the fastest-booked EV of the time. It garnered 10,000 bookings in just 24 hours. The Indian manufacturer commenced deliveries of 10,000 units in just 4 months. It took 17 months to sell 40,000 units. The starting price of Rs 7.99 lakh (ex-showroom) helped in driving sales.
The Tiago.EV’s positioning as an affordable, entry-spec electric hatchback was also one of its key USPs. It wasn’t as expensive as the Nexon EV, but had enough to offer in terms of value, features and powertrain capability. It comes in four trims (XE, XT, XZ+, and XZ+ Tech Lux.) and with two battery packs.
Today, it is not alone in its segment. Rivals like the Citroen eC3 and MG Comet put up strong fights against the Tiago.EV. The Comet could be the strongest of these. The Tata, however, has a clear upper hand over it. Visually, the EV stays true to its ICE counterpart.
The EV-spec design elements include a tweaked grille, Blue inserts, slightly reworked bumpers etc. The colour palette consists of five colours: teal blue, Daytona grey, tropical mist, pristine white, and midnight plum. It comes with a touchscreen infotainment system, automatic climate control, and a rear parking camera.
There are two battery options available- 19.2 kWh and 24 kWh. The smaller unit delivers 221 km on a single charge while the larger battery offers a range of 275 km. The smaller battery pack comes with a 61 hp electric motor that produces 110 Nm, while the larger unit is mated to a 74 hp motor producing 114 Nm. There is support for a 50 kW DC fast charger.
Tiago.EV: How Is It Better Than An MG Comet?
When pitted against the Comet, the Tiago.EV seems to have a slight upper hand. It is not that the Comet is sub-par, but the Tata hatchback could tick more boxes for customers who are on the lookout for an electric car that looks like an ICE product, has ample room and comfortable rides for four, is safe and solid, compact, has usable range and a capable powertrain. The Comet could be polarizing with its tiny proportions and compromised rear seat. Also, it is a 2-door- meaning ingress and egress aren’t as convenient as the 4-door Tiago.
Another key area of differentiation is the powertrain. While Tata offers two different battery packs, the Comet comes with just a 17.3 kWh until. The single motor setup produces 42hp and 110 Nm. The ARAI-certified range is 230 km per charge. On the Tiago.EV, the range is 250 km on the standard car and 315 km on the extended range version. The Comet makes for a wonderful urban commute for two, while the Tiago is a comfortable city car for four.
Tata’s Triumphant EV Spree
Tata has been dominating the Indian EV space ever since it made its debut with the Nexon EV. The current lineup consists of the Tiago.EV, Punch.EV, Nexon EV, and the recently launched Curvv.EV. On average, the electric Nexon sells 15,000 units a month. The Punch.EV is in high demand as well. Most Tata passenger EVs have extended-range versions. The Curvv.EV may not have had a flying start in numbers, but has managed to carve out a want for an electric coupe SUV among potential buyers
Tata Motors has in a way, shaped the Indian EV industry. Despite the debut and competition from multiple manufacturers and across segments, Tata EVs continue to sell well. The Indian giant also has plans to launch a slew of new all-electric models in the future, including the electric versions of Harrier, Safari and Sierra. Currently, Tata EVs use batteries sourced from within the group. However, future models would come with those sourced from a Chinese vendor- Octillion. The Curvv.EV will be the first to make this transition.