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A leaked design patent from Tata Motors has revealed the Terrain Mode that could debut in its upcoming SUV. The patent image shows a rotary knob with seven different terrain modes which include snow, road, gravel, mud and other modes. Tata Motors is expected to start offering all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive with its electric SUV from the Harrier EV.
Despite the rapidly rising demand for personal mobility and SUV-mania across the country, India’s passenger vehicle segment is likely to see less than five per cent growth in the next financial year, forecasted Tata Motors. Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Managing Director Shailesh Chandra stated that India’s domestic passenger vehicle industry is likely to see moderate to less growth in the next fiscal starting in April 2024. However, the Tata Motors official believes electric vehicle sales in the country will grow despite the slow pace of EV charging infrastructure development.
Chandra said that in FY23, the industry witnessed 25 per cent growth in the passenger vehicle segment, which is expected to become moderate in this financial year to about eight per cent. The Tata Motors official said that the industry is currently witnessing a high base effect and in the next financial year, there will be be slightly challenging situation for the segment. This challenging situation would result in the industry recording less than a five per cent growth rate in the next financial year, claimed Chandra during an analyst call.
In the last few months, automakers in India have announced price hikes for their respective passenger vehicle models citing increasing production costs due to factors such as surging raw material costs, inflation etc. Chandra hinted that there would be more such price hikes in the next financial year, which would pose challenges to the growth of passenger vehicles.
Citing various challenges for the growth of passenger vehicles in India, Chandra noted that while commodity prices have been stable in the past quarter or so, there is a risk that prices may go up going forward. He hinted that costs of crucial raw materials are going up, which may impact the prices of passenger vehicles negatively in the coming months.
Tata Motors is spearheading the democratisation of electric vehicles in India’s passenger vehicles segment. The homegrown OEM is leading the Indian electric car segment with more than 80 per cent market share. In the last few years, the segment has witnessed rapid growth thanks to various factors such as rising costs of petrol and diesel, narrowing price gap between electric and fossil fuel vehicles, availability of various government subsidies and incentives for EVs, tightening emission norms, growing awareness about environmental pollution and vehicular emissions’ impact on that, the launch of new electric cars etc. Tata Motors believes this growth momentum will continue in the next financial year as well.
Chandra said that in 2023, while the overall passenger vehicle industry grew eight per cent on a year-on-year basis compared to 2022, electric vehicle sales surged by 95-100 per cent YoY compared to the previous year. “I think this trend is likely to continue. So companies with stronger portfolios in CNG and EVs will grow,” Chandra said.
Interestingly, this growth projection comes despite the sluggish pace of growth for the electric vehicle charging infrastructure, which is considered a key factor for the growth of electric vehicle sales. “As far as EVs are concerned, I think the biggest challenge here is the pace at which the charging infra is growing. It is lagging behind the pace at which the EV adoption is happening,” Chandra noted further adding, “Given that the charging infra is crucial to the growth and expansion of EV market, we have gone for an open collaboration approach with all charge point operators as well as the oil marketing companies who are focusing on expansion of charging infra.”
First Published Date: 25 Feb 2024, 15:57 PM IST
India’s automobile industry is constantly evolving. People’s demands keep changing and manufacturers try to ensure that they are fulfilling the demands. The latest push in the industry has come in the form of safe vehicles. People are now well aware of the safety rating of the vehicles. What has helped in pushing safe vehicles is Global NCAP’s #safercarsforindia initiative. As part of this campaign, every year several cars that are being sold in India are crash-tested. This year also several cars were crash-tested and here are five cars that passed GNCAP tests with flying colours in 2023.
Tata Motors was the first automobile manufacturer that really started the movement about safe cars in India with the Nexon. However, they took a long time to crash-test the Harrier and Safari. With the facelifts, the manufacturer finally sent the SUVs to Global NCAP for a crash test and they scored the highest rating in the crash test. Not only this, the Harrier and the Safari are also the first vehicles to be tested by Bharat NCAP. Both the SUVs are based on Land Rover’s Omegarc platform so it makes sense that both SUVs also share the same safety rating and features.
Well, this came as a surprise to everyone. Hyundai Verna scored 5 stars in the Global NCAP crash test. It is the first made-in-India car from Hyundai to achieve five stars in the crash test. The new generation of Verna was launched in the Indian market this year and has been doing decent in terms of sales. The voluntary test for the Hyundai Verna was one of the last tests to be done by Global NCAP for India.
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Volkswagen Virtus and Skoda Slavia also scored 5 stars in the Global NCAP crash test. Both sedans come from the manufacturer’s India 2.0 strategy and are based on MQB-A0-IN. This is the same platform that is being used on the Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq which also scored 5 stars in a crash test.
First Published Date: 22 Dec 2023, 17:26 PM IST
Tata Motors has announced that its Safari and Harrier SUVs are the first vehicles to secure a 5-star rating in Bharat NCAP’s crash test. Both SUVs had also scored five stars in the Global NCAP crash test on which Bharat NCAP is based on. The Harrier and Safari were recently updated and received mechanical as well as cosmetic upgrades.
Tata Harrier and Safari received 30.08 points out of 32 in Adult Protection and 44.54 points out of 49 in Child Protection. The SUVs were fitted with seven airbags out of which six are offered as standard across all variants, Electronic Stability Control, three-point seatbelts in all rows, seatbelt reminders for all passengers, ISOFIX child seat mounts and seatbelts with retractor, pretensioner, load limiter and anchor pretensioner.
The Harrier is priced between ₹15.49 lakh and ₹26.44 lakh whereas the Safari starts at ₹16.19 lakh and goes up to ₹27.34 lakh. All prices are ex-showroom. Both SUVs use the same 2.0-litre diesel engine that is sourced from Fiat. It produces 168 bhp and 350 Nm. The gearbox on duty is a 6-speed manual unit or a 6-speed torque converter transmission.
Tata Motors has now found one more reason to underline the safety credentials of its vehicles. “Bharat-NCAP is a significant step forward as it provides customers with a credible, objective score to evaluate the safety aspects of various vehicles. Informed customers taking optimal decisions will further foster the rising preference for safer vehicles in the country,” said Shailesh Chandra, MD, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd. “We acknowledge and appreciate the collaborative efforts of the government, regulatory bodies, and the automotive industry in this pursuit. At Tata Motors, safety is at the core of our DNA and we are honoured to win this maiden Bharat-NCAP certification with an exemplary 5-star rating for two of our vehicles. We remain committed and will continue to work towards improving vehicle safety holistically.”
Also Read : Tata Nexon to Mahindra XUV700: How 5-star GNCAP safety ratings boosted these Indian cars’ sales performance
Bharat NCAP is a a star-rating system for crash testing cars that are available in Indian market specifically. As previously mentioned, it is based on the Global NCAP crash test system and will rate vehicles from zero to five, depending on the safety provided in case crashes. The test involves subjecting the test vehicle to crashes from multiple sides. Cars are voluntarily being sent by manufacturers and so far, the likes of Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Kia and of course, Tata Motors have sent a number of their respective models for the test.
On the result of Safari and Harrier, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, once again underlined the significance of Bharat NCAP. “Bharat NCAP is India’s independent, atmanirbhar voice on vehicle safety. It is benchmarked to the best-in-class global standards and the Bharat-NCAP vehicle rating system is designed to advance road safety and vehicle safety standards beyond mandatory regulations,” he said. ” I’m delighted that the first ever vehicles being certified today with the highest achievable 5-star rating, are both from Tata Motors. I congratulate them on award of this coveted certification with the highest possible ratings and for continuing to enrich their legacy of introducing the safest vehicles on Indian roads.”
First Published Date: 20 Dec 2023, 20:35 PM IST
Tata Motors is expected to drive in more electric vehicles besides other new models to India in coming days. The upcoming Tata cars, some of which will be launched in the next few months, also include CNG and ICE models too. While Tata Motors has confirmed launch of at least three of these models by next year, the other models have already been showcased in either production version or in concept avatars recently by the carmaker.
Tata Motors is currently the leading carmaker in India in the electric vehicle segment. It offers models like Nexon EV, Tiago EV and Tigor EV. Tata also has two of India’s best-selling SUVs in Nexon and Punch. The carmaker recently launched the facelift version of the Harrier and Safari SUVs. Besides EVs and ICE vehicles, Tata also offers a few CNG models including the Tigor, Tiago, Punch and Altroz. The carmaker will expand all these portfolios with new models in coming days.
Here is a look at some of the new and upcoming cars from Tata Motors stable worth waiting for.
Punch is the smallest SUV in Tata Motors’ lineup in India. The rival to Hyundai Exter, Punch is available in both petrol and diesel versions along with CNG kit too. In August this year, Tata Motors confirmed that it will launch four electric vehicles by early 2024. These upcoming electric vehicles also include the Punch EV, which has already been spotted a number of times during test runs. According to reports, the Punch EV will use the same Ziptron technology that is doing duty on the Nexon EV. The size of the battery could be the ones used for Tigor EV or the Nexon EV. Tata Punch EV could offer range of more than 300 kms in a single charge in the long-range version.
Tata Motors showcased the Curvv Concept model in 2022 highlighting how its design language will change for upcoming models. A year later, the carmaker is preparing to launch Curvv in the production form. Tata had showcased the ICE version of the Curvv at the Auto Expo held earlier this year. Sailesh Chandra, MD at Tata Motors, had confirmed that the Curvv ICE version will be launched in India ahead of its EV avatar by 2024. With either 1.2-litre and 1.5-litre petrol engines under its hood, the Curvv SUV is expected to take on the likes of Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara among others in the compact segment.
Showcased first as an electric concept, the Curvv SUV is likely to see its EV version launching in India after the ICE version. The Curvv EV will be based on Tata Motor’s X1 platform which will be heavily reworked to become EV ready. According to reports, the expected range of the Curvv electric SUV will be between 400 kms and 500 kms in a single charge. It is not clear if Tata Motors will use the same battery the Nexon EV facelift uses.
Tata Motors unveiled the Harrier EV at Auto Expo 2023 earlier this year. The carmaker has confirmed that the EV version of Tata’s flagship SUV will go on sale in 2024. It has been spotted testing on roads ahead of its launch within the next few months. Built on the Gen 2 EV architecture, the Harrier EV will come with V2L and V2V charging facilities. As far as design is concerned, the unit showcased by the carmaker at the Auto Expo is slightly different from the Harrier facelift SUV launched in October. Tata Motors has not revealed much about the powertrain and its specifications yet.
Showcased at the Auto Expo 2020 in concept form, Tata Altroz EV is one of India’s most awaited electric cars. This would be the second hatchback from the carmaker after the Tiago to get an electric version. The Tata Altroz EV is expected to draw power from the automaker’s Ziptron powertrain, which would comprise a permanent magnet AC motor channelling energy to the front wheels via a single-speed transmission. Expect the Altroz EV’s lithium-ion battery pack to offer a range of around 300 kms in a single charge, which could come with fast charging capability.
The Altroz premium hatchback is also expected to get its most powerful variant in the Racer version, which was showcased at the Auto Expo 2023. The sporty-looking version of the hatchback, complete with a dual-tone theme of red and black with white stripes, could be Tata’s answer to the likes if Hyundai i20 N Line. The Altroz Racer is powered by a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine. It produces 120 bhp and 170 Nm of peak torque. These power outputs are more than the Altroz iTurbo. Also, the gearbox has been upgraded, the Altroz Racer gets a 6-speed unit instead of a 5-speed unit.
The Nexon SUV, Tata Motors’ best-selling car in India, is currently offered with petrol, diesel and electric versions. However, the carmaker could complete Nexon’s family with the introduction of its twin-cylinder iCNG technology too. The carmaker recently launched the CNG version of Punch SUV. There are talks that Tata Motors is also planning to use the same technology in Nexon too. The sub-compact SUV’s key rival Maruti Suzuki Brezza is the only model in the segment which is offered with CNG technology.
The much-awaited Sierra SUV from Tata Motors was first showcased back in 2020 during Auto Expo. In the 2023 edition of the auto show, Tata Motors returned with an EV concept version of the SUV. Tata Motors has confirmed that the Sierra EV will be launched in India by 2025.
First Published Date: 30 Nov 2023, 14:15 PM IST
Tata Motors on Thursday announced that the company will officially launch the updated versions of the Safari and Harrier SUVs in the market on October 17. Bookings for both Tata Safari and Harrier had been opened just last week.
Both Tata Safari and Harrier are now promising some very significant updates to the styling on the outside while also sporting a number of updates in the cabin and crucial feature updates as well. While the Safari is a three-row vehicle that is positioned more as a family vehicle, the Harrier once again targets a younger-SUV-buying audience.
The Indian car market is being powered by a sustained demand for SUVs and in this space, Tata Motors has managed to create a solid mark with both the Safari and Harrier. While only offered with a diesel engine option which means those interested in a petrol motor remain sidelined, the sales figures of both vehicles remain a firm indication of the respective popularity.
While Harrier was first launched in the market back in 2019 and Tata Motors has since sold over one lakh units of the model, the Safari was introduced in 2021 and approximately 46,000 units has been sold thus far.
The facelift Tata Safari has a completely reworked front face which is highlighted by a new grille and updated casing for the head lights and fog lights. Stretching across the nose is an elongated DRL light bar which comes with ‘Welcome’ and ‘Goodbye’ signature illumination. The stretched light bar also makes its way to the rear of the SUV while the alloy design has been updated as well. In the cabin, the Tata Safari gets a new 12.3-inch infotainment screen with JBL Sound Modes, a 10-inch all-digital driver display, support for Amazon Alexa and Google Home – apart from native Tata voice command integration, dual-zone climate control, mood lighting, air purification system, panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charging, and more.
The facelift Harrier also sports a much fresher look and is now claiming to be sportier rather than all-out muscular. It gets an updated grille on the face and the an updated vertical housing for the head lights and fog lights. It too sports the same stretched DRL bar on the face as the Safari, and the same stretched tail light LED bar. The alloy design has been changed too. In the cabin, the feature list is similar to what is also offered on the updated Safari.
Tata Safari and Tata Harrier: Key specifications
Tata Motors has not brought any changes to the mechanics of both Safari and Harrier. The capable 2.0-litre diesel motor continues to do duty and is paired with both automatic and six-speed manual stick.
First Published Date: 12 Oct 2023, 11:37 AM IST
Tata Motors has opened the bookings for the 2023 Harrier and Safari facelift SUVs today. The carmaker will launch both these flagship SUVs in October. One can book the Harrier facelift SUV or the 2023 Safari SUV for an amount of ₹25,000 through Tata’s online portal or at nearest dealership. The deliveries are expected to start soon after Tata Motors announces the prices. While Harrier will renew its rivalry with the likes of Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos among others, the Safari will lock horns with Mahindra XUV700 in the three-row SUV space.
Tata Motors has teased both Harrier and Safari facelift SUVs on its social media handles in the run-up to the launch. Both models have undergone several changes, including design, features and powertrain. Here is a look at what all has changed.
Tata Motors will offer the Harrier facelift SUV in four trims. Like the new Nexon and Nexon EV, Tata has dropped the old nomenclature to identify the model variants. The carmaker will use Smart, Pure, Adventure and Fearless names for Harrier variants too. For Safari, the top-end variant is called Accomplished.
The Harrier and Safari facelift SUVs will come with a new front face. Among the key changes are an updated grille flanked by vertically split headlight setup and LED DRLs stretched across the bonnet. The main headlamp housing is new and is now positioned vertically. At the sides, the Harrier SUV will sit on a set of redesigned alloy wheels measuring between 17 inches and 19 inches. At the rear, the Harrier gets connected light bar feature that Safari facelift has also received.
On the inside, the 2023 Harrier will offer a new 12.30-inch infotainment screen and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster which look similar to the ones introduced in 2023 Nexon and Nexon EV. The dashboard will come with ambient lighting promising a more youthful vibe inside the cabin of the new Harrier. The new Harrier will also come with the new two-spoke steering wheel with a backlit panel showing Tata Motors’ logo and mounted controls that made its debut inside the Nexon and Nexon EV facelift SUVs.
Among other features, the Harrier facelift SUV will also offer powered tailgates, 10 JBL speaker sound system with Harmon AudioworX, paddle shifters, 360 degree camera and more.
In terms of safety, Tata Motors will offer as many as seven airbags in Harrier and Safari. Six airbags will be offered as standard across all variants. The seventh airbag, which is meant to protect the knees of the driver, will be offered in top-spec variants. Tata will also offer level-2 ADAS technology in Harrier, as well as the new Safari, with at least 11 safety features.
The new Harrier and Safari SUVs will continue to be offered with Tata Motor’s trusted 2.0-litre diesel engine only. Mated to either a 6-speed automatic or a 6-speed manual transmission options, the engine is capable of generating 167.6 bhp of power and 350 Nm of peak torque. It also offers three drive modes which include Eco, City and Sport. Besides these, Tata will also offer three traction modes – Normal, Rough and Wet.
First Published Date: 06 Oct 2023, 16:44 PM IST