All posts by : Car Bima

With battery costs falling to a record-low of around $130 (Rs 10,800 approx.) per kilowatt hour, there’s a potential to see a mass market electric car with a real-world range of 250km that’s priced similar to an ICE-powered vehicle within 18 months, says Shailesh Chandra, MD of Tata Passenger Electric Mobility.

1. EVs currently priced 25-35 percent higher than ICE counterpart
2. ICE to see price increase, while EV prices will decrease

Speaking at our sister publication Autocar Professional’s India EV Conclave, Chandra said that while early adopters of EVs are willing to pay a 20-30 percent premium over conventional ICE vehicles, mainstream buyers want an EV at the same price as an ICE vehicle. “In the foreseeable future – in less than 1 year, 1 and a half years – you are going to see a car with 200-250km real range in the mass market, hitting that level,” he added.

ICE and EV price trends

The head of India’s largest electric carmaker says the future “cost trend is locked in”, where the cost of an internal combustion engine will be “inflationary” in nature to meet the future emissions compliance, whereas for EVs will witness a “deflationary” trend with battery costs likely to fall. “It’s a given, EVs will see a deflationary trend. So, there is a breakpoint at some stage that you are going to see,” said Chandra.

There are several reasons why battery prices are going down. It’s primarily the LFP battery packs – Tata Motors uses LFP, while Mahindra uses NMC – that are becoming more affordable, due to declining raw material costs. This is due to both, a significant increase in lithium production capacity as well as the slowing growth rate of EVs across the globe.

The cost of an electric vehicle over a conventional ICE-powered car is still about 25-35 percent higher due to significant import content and high battery cost. For instance, top-spec variants of the Nexon and Nexon EV are priced at Rs 15.50 lakh and Rs 19.94 lakh (ex-showroom), respectively, which is roughly a difference of about 30 percent.

Chandra believes that with GST at 5 percent, benefit of falling battery cost and benefits accrued out of the government’s production linked incentive (PLI) scheme, the company will not only be able to price its products competitively but the EV business will also start generating profits.

In Tata Motors’ portfolio, models such as the Tiago and Tigor EVs have a real-world range of about 200km, and the upcoming Punch EV could also offer a similar range. Therefore, these entry-level models should be able to close the price gap with their ICE counterparts in the future. Tata Motors will also have an electric derivative of the Harrier, and the upcoming Curvv coupe-SUV too will have both ICE and electric versions. However, these larger vehicles with larger batteries may not be able to achieve the same cost competitiveness as the entry-level models.

Tata Motors’ share in EVs and investments

Tata Motors on its part has single-handedly helped in creating a market for EVs, and has a predominant share of over 85 percent in the nascent yet fast emerging space. The electric car market in India is likely to cross the 1 lakh mark for the first time ever this financial year, and the company is well on course for a six-digit annual sales mark within a year.

Tata Motors has committed USD 2 billion (around Rs 16,600 crore) in investment for its EV business and it has plans of building a portfolio of 10 electric vehicles by 2025. About 15 percent of its total sales comes from EVs, and the company expects EVs to account for 30 percent of its total volumes by 2025.

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It is the Mercedes I used to draw in my school textbooks as a kid. The twin headlights in a single pod, the vertical chrome Mercedes grille, the ‘V’ bonnet. And later, when I just started driving, I got to spend a lot of time with a similar fuel-injected 230 E. 

So coming face to face with it again feels like meeting an old friend. The familiar lines have aged very little and many of the details and proportions are so ingrained in my memory, I seem to know every line, every curve. It’s much smaller on the inside than I remember, and some of the buttons on the dash are not the same, but the car feels so familiar that I just want to jump in and drive.

Still, as we walk around the rear, I see that this is a carburetted and not fuel-injected version, so no einspritz ‘e’ suffix after the 230 badge on the boot, from where the E-Class funnily got its name. And it has a sunroof with a unique metal cover; just what we need here in India. 

Getting behind the wheel is another nostalgia trip – the sights, the sounds, the smells just get me smiling. And then there’s the legendary build quality. No wonder, these cars ran for millions of kilometres as cabs, especially in Egypt and North Africa. The solid dash, the big four-spoke steering wheel, the manner in which the front seats slide along their rails.

The driver’s seat, with its nigh-perfect contours and large supportive frame, is comfortable even by today’s standards. And I just love those fox-eared headrests. The other thing I love is the huge upright dials with their orange accents and needles, and I absolutely love the manner in which the big chunky dial adjusts fan speed clacks through every slot.

 

Even better is the legendary door shut with that typical W123 thud and metallic clack from the door latch. Then I insert the key into the bottom left of the ‘70mm’ instrument panel and fire it up. The engine feels smooth, even 43 years on, and it revs in a creamy, silky manner. It is also pretty silent, apart from some mechanical clatter, and what gets the car moving effortlessly is that it has a nice torquey bottom end. Despite having a carburettor, it also accelerates smoothly; no jerks, no hiccups.

What’s exceptional, however, is the ride quality. The tall suspension seems to hover above the road and has plenty of travel. And what sort of sets it apart is that the wheels move under you in a soft, supple manner. The ride is good even by today’s standards.

There’s little doubt the W123 exudes an air of superior engineering. To say it’s a car built without a budget in mind would be something of an exaggeration, but it sure feels like that. 

 

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Toyota has taken the wraps off the all-new Hilux Champ pickup, its first model based on the recently unveiled IMV 0 platform. Earlier this month, we had reported to you that this new Toyota pickup will be christened Hilux Champ upon debut.

The Hilux Champ has been unveiled in Thailand, which is where it will first go on sale; in the future, it will be launched in more markets like Indonesia, Africa and South America.

1. Toyota Hilux Champ gets two wheelbase options
2. Three engines, two gearbox options on offer
3. IMV 0 platform to spawn a future affordable off-roader

Toyota Hilux Champ: what exactly is it?

The Hilux Champ is the second product for Toyota’s Hilux brand. It has been introduced as a customisable vehicle with as many as 10 configurations, depending on the market. This means, apart from the platform, mechanicals and some body panels, the Hilux Champ can be customised as per a buyer’s needs by third-party car body-builders.

This pickup is primarily aimed at customers who are looking for an affordable alternative to the Hilux, which has now grown much larger in size and also in price from the original. Toyota previewed the Hilux Champ as the IMV 0 concept at the Japan Mobility Show, and as the Toyota Rangga concept in Indonesia a few months ago. The model was also shown in the Philippines where there is a huge demand for customisable vehicles. 

In production form, the Hilux Champ gets three powertrain choices. First is the 2.4-litre diesel good for 150hp and mated to either a 5-speed manual (350Nm torque) or a 6-speed automatic (400Nm torque). It also gets two naturally aspirated 4-cylinder petrol engine options – a 2.0-litre unit good for 130hp and 183Nm, and a 2.7-litre unit that delivers 166hp and 245Nm of torque. Both these engines also get a 5-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic gearbox as options. Additionally, there are talks of a strong hybrid petrol option also making its way in some markets.

As far as wheelbase options are concerned, the Hilux Champ SWB is 4.9 metres long, 1.8 metres wide and 1.8 metres tall. It has a 2,750mm wheelbase, which is identical to the Toyota Innova Crysta. Meanwhile, the Hilux Champ LWB is 5.3 metres long, has a 3,085mm wheelbase, and is identical in width and height to the SWB version. Both versions get a 180mm ground clearance.

Toyota Hilux Champ could spawn an affordable Fortuner

While there is no official word on whether the Toyota Hilux Champ will make it to India, the IMV 0 platform, which is a ladder-frame unit, is meant for developing markets, and is likely to spawn an affordable version of the Fortuner. However, sources tell us the Hilux Champ is likely to make its way to India in the future, and the SUV derivative is expected to go on sale around a year after the pickup’s India launch.

IMAGE SOURCE

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Following the global unveiling of the new third-gen Panamera, Porsche has already launched its sports sedan in India, and the company says it will start official bookings by next week.

Porsche has only released the price for the regular rear-wheel drive V6 Panamera, which comes in at Rs 1.68 crore (ex showroom, India). The outgoing V6 Panamera was priced at Rs 1.57 crore.

The Rs 1.68 crore price tag, however, is before options, and standard equipment includes 8-way adjustable electric seats, matrix LED headlights, 6 airbags, a full-HD 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment and Porsche Communication Management (PCM) with Navigation, Mobile Phone Preparation, Audio Interface and Voice Control.

Technical specs include the 2.9 litre twin-turbo V6 engine coupled with an 8-speed PDK auto, rear-wheel drive and a two-way adaptive rear spoiler. Further technical details, including the exact power figures, are yet to be revealed.

The Porsche Panamera rivals the Mercedes-AMG GT63 S e-Performance 4-door Coupe (Rs 3.3 crore, ex-showroom).

New Porsche Panamera: no hybrid for India

The V8-powered models of the Panamera will be launched in India at a later date, however, Porsche says that India will not get both V6 and V8 hybrids as it found extremely few takers in the past. However, the GTS version – which will be revealed next year – will launch in India, making it the most powerful Panamera available; the Turbo models won’t make it here as they’re all hybrids.

This also means that the new, fully active suspension system will also not be available here as it needs the hybrid’s high voltage electrical system to operate. Thus, the Indian models will only come with the semi-active air spring setup.

Porsche Panamera long wheelbase to come later

In addition to the regular wheelbase, the Panamera will also have an executive long wheelbase model, given the high demand the previous version saw in China. The new long wheelbase model has been extended by 150mm, with the overall length stretching to 5.2 metres. Given that the previous long wheelbase Panamera was on sale in India, we expect the new model to also make its way here. 

Those looking for the Sport Turismo estate version will be disappointed though, as globally, this body style will no longer be available on the Panamera. Porsche says it saw very few takers globally, and that it is limiting this estate body style to the Taycan.

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This story came to light when one of our readers shared with us that he had been contacted by Simple Energy to cancel his pre-booking. Since this came as a phone call, the customer was uncertain whether it was a scam, so he wrote an email to the company’s customer care helpline to confirm if this indeed was the case. This was the response he received from Simple Energy’s customer care email id: 

“Our team is attempting to reach all our customers via telephone. Meanwhile, our intention is to create awareness among our customers about the recent fraudulent happening forging Simpleenergy Private Limited. This affects our brand value as customers believe these imposters and lose their hard-earned money. Hence, we are taking this step of initiating the refund to all our customers.

We reached out to Simple Energy for a statement and this is what the company shared with us:

“It has come to our attention that certain customers have received emails urging them to cancel their pre-bookings with Simple Energy. We understand the concern and wish to clarify the situation to alleviate any doubts or uncertainties. These emails were specifically sent to select customers residing in cities where fraudulent activities were detected, posing a potential risk to our company’s reputation. This proactive measure was taken to safeguard our customers and offer them the option of a refund, should they wish to reconsider their pre-bookings.”

We are also given to understand that the customer care service is handled by an external agency and that this has led to some miscommunication. Simple tells us that this email has not been sent to all pre-booking customers, despite what was mentioned in the email. 

Nevertheless, the rationale mentioned by Simple does leave some questions. For one, it does not explain why the customer who shared this with us received this notification as he had made his booking in August 2021, well before any fraudulent activities may have begun. Beyond that, it’s also strange to see any company asking its customers to take their money back as a safeguard against potential fraudulent activities – regardless of whether those customers have actually been a victim of said fraud. 

It does come across that there is another possibility here – perhaps the company is looking to ease the load of back orders as it navigates through the journey of setting up and stabilising its production capabilities. This theory is reinforced by what is mentioned further down in Simple Energy customer care email sent to the customer:  

“Once we have an experience center in your city, you will be the first priority customer as per the sequence of your pre-book to be reached for delivery of Simple One. In the meantime, please stay tuned to our social media platforms for more updates and also on our website.”   

After all, Simple Energy’s sales numbers have trickled down to a halt in the last few months. 

Back in May 2023, Simple stated that deliveries would begin in June in Bengaluru, with other cities to follow soon. The company also stated at that point that it had a target of setting up ‘140 to 150’ showrooms in India over the next 8 to 10 months. However, as in the past, things haven’t gone as promised and according to government registration data, Simple Energy has delivered less than 40 scooters to date.

To be precise, the company sold 10 scooters in June, 14 in July and 13 in August. Since then, the company has not delivered any scooters, as of 23 November 2023. We asked Simple about this as well and this is what we were told:

“Regarding zero deliveries, it’s important to note that this was attributed to a comprehensive pilot program aimed at evaluating real-world scenarios and potential user-related challenges. Such assessments are a standard practice to ensure the utmost quality and customer satisfaction.

We are pleased to inform you that following the successful conclusion of our assessment phase, Simple Energy is now positioned favourably. As a result, we are diligently planning to scale up our operations. Anticipate a significant surge in scooter deliveries by the end of November or early December, signifying our commitment to meeting your expectations.”

Have you made a pre-booking for a Simple Energy electric scooter and if so, have you received similar communication from the company? Do let us know if that is the case.