By: Paarth Khatri | Updated on: 15 May 2024, 10:04 AM
Mahindra XUV 3XO is offered with three engine options and nine variants.
The Mahindra XUV 3XO comes with a new 6-speed automatic transmission.
Mahindra recently launched the XUV 3XO in the Indian market. It is essentially a heavily updated version of the XUV300. Now, the brand has opened bookings for the XUV 3XO online on the website and at authorised dealerships as well. Mahindra has also announced that they will be commencing deliveries of the sub-compact SUV from 26th May. Having said that, interested customers can already check out the XUV 3X0 at the nearby dealerships.
The XUV 3X0 will be offered with three engine options. There is a 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine, a 1.2-litre petrol engine with direct-injection and a 1.5-litre diesel engine. The direct-injection petrol engine puts out 128 bhp of max power and a peak torque output of 230 Nm. The turbo petrol produces 108 bhp and 200 Nm whereas the diesel engine puts out 115 bhp and 300 Nm.
As standard, all engines come mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox whereas the diesel engine also gets a 6-speed AMT. What’s new for the 3XO is the 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission that is now available on both petrol engines.
Mahindra is offering the XUV 3XO in nine variants. The prices start at ₹7.49 lakh and go up to ₹15.49 lakh. Both prices are ex-showroom. The main rivals of the XUV 3XO are the Kia Sonet, Tata Nexon, Maruti SuzukiBrezza, Hyundai Venue and the upcoming compact SUV from Skoda.
Watch: Mahindra XUV 3XO review: XUV300 reborn with more zeal and style? | Check – Price, Interior, Colours
Some of the highlights of the XUV 3XO are the panoramic sunroof which is the largest in the segment, there is a 360-degree parking camera, dual-zone climate control and auto hold with an electronic parking brake. Then there is the addition of Level 2 ADAS. The hardware is shared with the XUV700. Moreover, there are also three steering modes – Comfort, Normal and Sport.
By: Sameer Fayaz Contractor | Updated on: 25 Mar 2024, 18:26 PM
The Citroen Basalt Vision will be a compact coupe SUV based on the C-Cubed platform that also underpins the C3, eC3 and C3 Aircross models.
The Citroen Basalt Vision Compact Coupe SUV will be built for India and South America markets based on the C-Cubed platform
Citroen has announced it will be revealing the new Basalt Vision Coupe SUV on March 27, 2024, developed for Indian and South American markets. The Citroen Basalt Vision will be a compact coupe SUV based on the C-Cubed platform that also underpins the C3, eC3 and C3 Aircross models in the brand’s lineup.
The Citroen Basalt Vision compact coupe SUV teaser reveals the receding roofline as well as the distinctive LED taillight design. The raked rear windscreen merges into the boot and is expected to offer a sharply styled look to the SUV. Coupe SUVs are expected to be the next big design trend in the mass market space and Citroen will be early to the market taking on the upcoming Tata Curvv ICE in the segment.
The Citroen Basalt Vision is expected to be about the same size as the C3 Aircross SUV. That said, the model is likely to be a strict five-seater, unlike the seven-seater derivative of the C3 Aircross. Visually too, the Basalt Vision is expected to get a slightly different front and rear design over the existing C-Cube models for a more premium and upmarket appeal. That said, we expect Citroen’s signature grille and DRLs to feature on the new model, as well as the split headlamp setup.
The cabin is expected to borrow heavily from the new C3 Aircross but we expect improvements on the feature front among other changes. Expect the equipment levels to include a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 7-inch digital instrument console, electrically adjustable ORVMs, connected features, climate control, keyless entry, push-button start/stop and more. Citroen could offer the coupe SUV only with the 1.2-litre turbo petrol motor to maintain its exclusivity.
Also Watch: Citroen eC3 gets ‘appalling’ zero-star safety rating at Global NCAP crash test
More details on the Citroen Basalt Vision Coupe SUV will be available later this week. The company is also said to have the C3X cross-sedan in the works for the Indian market. Make sure to keep watching this space for all the action and to know more about Citroen’s future plans for India.
By: HT Auto Desk | Updated on: 25 Feb 2024, 15:57 PM
Tata Motors’ key official Shailesh Chandra has hinted at impending price hikes for passenger vehicles in the coming months.
Tata Motors’ key official Shailesh Chandra has hinted at impending price hikes for passenger vehicles in the coming months.
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.
Passenger vehicles to see sluggish growth
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.
Watch: 2023 Tata Safari review: Family SUV with bachelor spirit?
Passenger vehicles likely to be pricier
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.
Watch: 2023 Tata Nexon EV facelift first drive review: Best-seller gets even better?
Electric vehicles to continue growing
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.
Watch: Tata Altroz iCNG: First Drive Review
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.”
By: Sameer Fayaz Contractor | Updated on: 12 Jan 2024, 20:01 PM
The new Tata Punch EV takes things up a notch from its petrol-powered sibling and is based on the second-generation ActivEV platform promising about 3
…
The new Tata Punch EV takes things up a notch from its petrol-powered sibling and is based on the second-generation ActivEV platform promising about 300 km of range.
The Tata Punch EV will go on sale on January 17 and prices are expected to be between ₹11-14 lakh (ex-showroom)
Tata Motors has confirmed the Punch EV is all set to go on sale on January 17, 2024. The Tata Punch EV was unveiled earlier this month and the model will be the brand’s most affordable electric SUV. The new Tata Punch EV takes things up a notch from its petrol-powered sibling and is based on the second-generation Pure EV platform called ActivEV. Pre-bookings for the new Punch EV are already open for a token of ₹21,000.
Tata Punch EV: Styling
The Tata Punch EV looks different from its petrol counterpart getting styling updates as seen on the Nexon EV facelift as well as the Curvv concept. The connected LED DRLs at the front, closed-off grille, slim LED headlamps, all are intended to bring the model in line with Tata’s electric SUV family. The design theme will also be prevalent on the upcoming Harrier EV slated for launch later this year. Other notable changes include new aero alloy wheels, while the rear remains identical with the addition of the new dual-tone bumper.
The Tata Punch EV is expected to get several segment-first features including upgrades over the petrol-powered Punch
Tata Punch EV: Features
The cabin remains under wraps for now but the Punch EV is expected to get the 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system from the Nexon EV facelift. It will also get the new UI, the two-spoke steering wheel with the illuminated Tata logo, a rotary drive selector and more. Expect the model to come with a new control panel for the HVAC unit.
On the feature front, the Punch EV is likely to get a 360-degree camera, leatherette seats with ventilation, electronic parking brake with auto hold, wireless charging, connected car tech, cruise control, a sunroof and more. Tata is also likely to bring the Arcade.ev app to the infotainment system allowing users to download interactive applications.
Tata Punch EV: Range
Built on the second-gen platform, the new Tata Punch EV will be available in standard and long-range versions. Specifications are yet to be revealed but expect to see 25 kWh and 35 kWh battery packs. Charging options will include a 3.3 kW on the standard and a 7.2 kW AC charger on the long-range model. Expect the long-range version to offer a range of about 300 km on a single charge. Tata says the new battery packs will be wider and will come with higher-density cells promising to improve efficiency by 10 per cent.
Also Watch: 2023 Tata Nexon EV facelift first drive review: Best-seller gets even better?
More details on the Tata Punch EV will be available on January 17. Deliveries should begin soon after the launch. The electric SUV will be sold via Tata’s new EV-only dealerships. Expect prices to be in the vicinity of ₹11-14 lakh (ex-showroom) and the Punch EV will primarily take on the Citroen E-C3 in the segment.
India is one of the fastest-growing electric vehicle markets in the world. Over the last few years, both legacy players and EV startups have been drastically transforming the landscape of the Indian EV industry. Electric two-wheelers dominate the Indian EV market, but car manufacturers too are introducing interesting products. While homegrown car manufacturers have been launching new electric cars in the country, foreign brands are also bringing their respective products into the segment.
By: HT Auto Desk | Updated on: 23 Dec 2023, 20:42 PM
From mass-market to luxury, the year 2023 witnessed launch of several electric cars across price-segments, with SUVs dominating the chart.
In 2023, several carmakers, in both mass-market and luxury segments have launched some spectacular electric cars across different pricing slabs. Interestingly, like the fossil-fuel-propelled passenger vehicle market, the Indian electric car market is witnessing the rise of SUVs. In 2023, the majority of the electric cars launched in the country were SUVs.
Here is a comprehensive list of the electric cars that were launched in India in 2023.
MG Comet EV
MG Comet EV is the most affordable electric car in India. This small boxy hatchback looks tiny compared to other models in the fray, but a perfect machine for in and around-city commuting. MG Comet EV was launched in 2023 at an introductory starting price of ₹7.98 lakh (ex-showroom). The electric hatchback threw a tough challenge to the Tata Tiago EV, the erstwhile most affordable electric car in India with its pricing. Design-wise, the EV is eye-catching on the exterior, while inside the cabin it looks simple yet very much urban at the same time. The Comet EV promises a 230 km range on a single charge.
Tata Nexon EV facelift
One of the most noteworthy car launches in India in 2023 was the arrival of the Nexon EV facelift. Tata Nexon EV is the country’s bestselling electric car and the homegrown automaker simply ramped up the appeal of the electric compact SUV with the launch of the Nexon facelift, which incorporates a wide range of design and feature updates. The Nexon EV facelift comes available at a starting price of ₹14.74 lakh (ex-showroom), and it promises a 465-kilometre range on a single charge, while it can accelerate to 0-100 kmph in 8.9 seconds. It comes with V2V and V2L technologies.
Powering the electric SUV is a 66.4 kWh battery pack paired with dual electric motors.
BMW iX1
BMW launched the electric avatar of the X1 SUV, christened as iX1 in India in 2023. The luxury EV was launched in the country at a price tag of ₹66.90 lakh (ex-showroom). BMW iX1 is the German brand’s fourth fully electric vehicle and is sold in India via the CBU route. Powering the electric SUV is a 66.4 kWh battery pack paired with dual electric motors. The electric propulsion system churns out 309 bhp peak power and 494 Nm of maximum torque. The EV promises up to 440-kilometre range on a single charge. It can reach 0-100 kmph in 5.6 seconds and can achieve a top speed of 180 kmph.
BMW i7
BMW i7 is an all-electric sedan that was launched in India in 2023 at a price tag of ₹2.50 crore (ex-showroom). The BMW i7 M70 xDrive is the brand’s first M-division electric car that was launched in India in 2023. Powering this luxury electric sedan is a 101.7 kWh battery pack that is paired with dual electric motors and generates up to a 560-kilometre range on a single charge. The electric propulsion system churns out 657 bhp peak power and 1,100 Nm maximum torque. This electric sedan can sprint to 100 kmph from a standstill position in just 3.7 seconds at a top speed of 250 kmph.
Mahindra XUV400
Mahindra XUV400 is the homegrown automaker’s first-ever electric SUV launched in India in 2023. The Mahindra XUV400 comes positioned in compact SUV segment and it competes with rivals like the Tata Nexon EV. Launched at ₹15.99 lakh (ex-showroom), the Mahindra XUV400 is available in two different battery options and promises up to 456-kilometre range on a single charge. Available in EC and EL, the Mahindra electric SUV’s price goes up to ₹18.99 lakh (ex-showroom).
Citroen eC3
Despite being a new entrant in the Indian passenger vehicle market, French auto giant Citroen was quick to launch an electric car in the form of eC3. The electric SUV comes priced from ₹11.50 lakh (ex-showroom) and it promises a range of 320 kilometres on a single charge, which is also the highest in its segment. Available in four different variants, the Citroen eC3 EV is powered by a 29.2 kWh battery pack that promises 320 kilometres range on a single charge. The electric SUV promises a top speed of 107 kmph.
Volvo C40 Recharge
Volvo C40 Recharge is the second electric car in India from the Swedish luxury car manufacturer after the XC40 Recharge. The electric car was launched at ₹61.25 lakh (ex-showroom). The EV competes with rivals such as Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5. The EV gets power from a 78 kWh battery pack paired with dual electric motors. The EV churns out 402 bhp peak power and 660 Nm of maximum torque. The EV is capable of running at a top speed of 180 kmph and can sprint to 100 kmph from a standstill position in 4.7 seconds.
Hyundai Ioniq 5
Hyundai Ioniq 5 is the second electric car from the South Korean auto giant in the Indian market. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 EV has been launched in the country at ₹44.95 lakh (ex-showroom). The EV comes competing against the Kia EV6 but is more affordable than the rebadged sibling. Powering the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a 72.6 kWh battery pack, that promises a 631 kilometre range on a single charge. It gets a rear-wheel drivetrain churning out 214 bhp peak power and 350 Nm of maximum torque. The EV claims come with a fast charging technology that charges the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in just 18 minutes.
Audi Q8 e-tron and Sportback e-tron
Audi launched the Q8 e-tron and Sportback e-tron in India in middle of 2023. The SUV and the Sportback were launched together, priced at ₹1.14 crore and ₹1.18 core (ex-showroom). The Q8 e-tron essentially came as a facelifted iteration of the erstwhile e-tron. Both the SUV and the Sportback were launched in two trims – 50 and 55, with range of up to 600 kilometres on a single charge. Powering the 50 variant is a 71 kWh battery pack, while the 55 onbe gets a larger 114 kWh battery pack. The SUV has a maximum claimed range of 491 kilometres and 582 kilometres for the 50 and 55 variants, respectively, while the Sportback has a maximum range of 505 kilometres and 600 kilometres for the 50 and 55 variants, respectively.
Mercedes-Benz EQB
Mercedes-Benz India launched the EQB 350 4Matic electric SUV in India in 2023, at a starting price of ₹77.50 lakh (ex-showroom). The luxury electric SUV was launched in the country replacing the previous EQB 300 4Matic that was launched in December 2022. The EQB is powered by a 66.5 kWh battery pack. The electric propulsion system onboard the SUV promises 288 bhp peak power and 520 Nm of maximum torque. These specifications are significant enhancements from the EQB 300 4Matic.
Mercedes-Benz EQE
Mercedes-Benz EQE electric SUV was launched in India in 2023 after the EQS and EQB, joining the lineup as the brand’s third EV in the country. The Mercedes-Benz EQE electric SUV was launched here at ₹1.39 crore (ex-showroom). It competes with rivals like Audi Q8 e-tron and BMW iX1 electric SUVs. Mercedes-Benz EQE 500 4Matic SUV comes promising 550 kilometres range on a single charge. The SUV gets power from a 90.56 kWh battery pack that is paired with dual motors. The SUV can accelerate from 0-100 kmph in 4.9 seconds at a top speed of 210 kmph.
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.
By: HT Auto Desk | Updated on: 22 Dec 2023, 17:26 PM
Tata Harrier and Safari SUVs have secured five star rating at the Global NCAP crash tests and Bharat NCAP becoming two of the safest cars in India.
Tata Safari and Harrier
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.
Hyundai Verna
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.
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.
Tata Motors has inaugurated its first EV-only dealership in Gurugram. The dealership will open for the general public on 7th January and it is located on Sohna Road. The manufacturer says that they will expand the network to 2-3 more cities where they sell the most number of electric vehicles.
By: Paarth Khatri | Updated on: 21 Dec 2023, 16:19 PM
The new EV-only dealership is located on Sohna Road, Gurugram and will be operational from 7th January.
Customers would be able to use fast chargers that will be available at these new dealerships. Tata has also announced that once the EV dealerships are up and running, they will stop selling electric vehicles from regular showrooms. Apart from this, all Tata EV showrooms will have workshops that will be exclusive to Tata electric vehicles, this information was already confirmed to us back in October last year when the manufacturer launched the Tiago EV.
Tata Motors currently sells the Nexon. ev, Tiago.ev and Tigor. ev in the Indian market. Nexon.ev and Tiago.ev contribute around 75 per cent of sales among all Tata electric vehicle sales. Speaking of Tiago.ev, 25 per cent of buyers of the electric hatchback are women. Tata aims to complete 2023 with about 70,000 EV sales.
Commenting at the inauguration of the new showrooms, Shailesh Chandra, MD, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd., and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, said, “With insights gathered from over 1 Lakh Tata EV customers, we understand that the EV consumers seek a different kind of customer experience. They are sensitive to how the planet is evolving, very conscious about the cost of driving, and desire cutting-edge technology. This is in line with the new brand identity’s core values – sustainability, community, and technology. The new flagship showrooms are the first physical manifestations of this brand philosophy and we have mapped the customer journey accordingly. We want to empower our customers so our plans include the creation of a harmonious community space to facilitate customer gatherings/services, sustainability-focused workshops, and events for customers. These showrooms are not just about retailing EVs but they become TATA.ev community centres in Gurugram.
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.
By: Paarth Khatri | Updated on: 20 Dec 2023, 21:24 PM
The Harrier and Safari are the first vehicles to be tested by Bharat NCAP.
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.
Watch: Tata Harrier or Safari? Which one should you pick and why
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.”
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.”
Renault India has announced support for its customers in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh who have been affected by Cyclone Michaung. The French automaker announced free roadside assistance for the affected customers, while it also launched a 24×7 helpline among other benefits. The automaker also claimed that it had initiated SMS alerts and company app notifications prior cyclone to inform its customers about vehicle safeguarding measures.
By: HT Auto Desk | Updated on: 09 Dec 2023, 10:10 AM
Renault extends support to customers affected by Cyclone Michaung by launching free RSA and a 24×7 helpline.
Over the last two days, several automakers including Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Hyundai, Mahindra, Toyota, Jeep, and Audi have announced supportive measures for their respective customers who have been affected by the cyclone. Now, Renault has joined the list as it has announced a comprehensive support initiative for its customers.
The car manufacturer in an official release has said that it is offering roadside assistance to help customers transport their vehicles to the nearest dealerships free of cost. The company also claimed that it would reimburse the towing costs incurred by customers who independently arranged for transporting their vehicles. Renault claims to have deployed an additional fleet of 15 towing trucks throughout Tamil Nadu to prioritise recovery of flood-affected vehicles. Also, it has set up a 24×7 helpline ensuring the customers prompt and efficient assistance.
Speaking about the measures taken, Sudhir Malhotra, Vice President of Sales Marketing at Renault India Private Limited (RIPL), said the automaker has pledged to provide robust support to its customers affected by the Chennai floods. “During these hard times, Renault India, in solidarity with other OEMs, provides robust support to our customers affected by the Chennai floods. Our all-encompassing initiatives, spanning proactive communication and hands-on assistance, underscore our unwavering commitment to offering 24/7 aid to our customers in Tamil Nadu. Renault India will continue to remain vigilant, continuously monitoring the situation and adjusting our efforts to address the changing needs of the community and our customers. We stand united in these challenging times,” he added.
Tata Motors has opened a new vehicle scrapping facility, its fourth, in Chandigarh today (November 28). Announcing the start of the new facility, the carmaker said the state-of-the-art facility will be able to scrap around 12,000 end-of-life vehicles each year. The vehicle manufacturer further stated that the new facility is named as Re.Wi.Re, which stands for Recycle with Respect. The new facility was unveiled by Shailesh Chandra, Managing Director at Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility on Tuesday.
By: HT Auto Desk | Updated on: 28 Nov 2023, 13:38 PM
Besides the new vehicle scrappage facility in Chandigarh, Tata Motors also has such centres in three other cities including Jaipur, Bhubaneswar and Surat.
Tata Motors said that the facility has been developed and operated by its partner Dada Trading Company. According to the carmaker, the facility will help scrapping of vehicles using environment-friendly processes. The facility, which is fully digitalised, will be able to scrap both passenger and commercial vehicles. It has dedicated centres to dismantle components like batteries, tyres, as well as fuel, oil, liquid and gas. The carmaker said the scrapping centre has dedicated cell-type and line-type dismantling for both type of vehicles.
This new vehicle scrapping centre is the fourth such facility run by Tata Motors. Previously, the carmaker had opened three such centres in Jaipur, Bhubaneshwar and Surat. Shailesh Chandra, MD at Tata Motors, said, “This state-of-the-art facility not only emphasises our unwavering commitment to responsible manufacturing but also represents our dedication to creating a greener and cleaner environment. The establishment of the fourth such facility is a testament to our relentless pursuit of reducing carbon emissions, promoting a circular economy and cultivating a culture of recycling.” In September this year, Tata Motors inaugurated its Surat vehicle scrapping facility. It is capable of recycling 15,000 vehicles every year.
Tata Motors said scrapping of old vehicles will help in getting rid of polluting vehicles and make way for safer and more fuel-efficient vehicles to enter the market. It echoes Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s vision to discard old vehicles. Gadkari had said that the Centre’s vehicle scrapping policy will increase automobile sales by 18 per cent. He had also said that using the raw materials sourced from scrapped vehicles will save 33 per cent cost on raw material procurement.
The Vehicle Scrappage Policy introduced for the first time in August 2021, focuses on phasing out old and unfit vehicles across India in order to reduce the vehicular pollution level as the older vehicles are known for polluting the environment more than the newer models. This policy aims to de-register private cars that are aged more than 20 years and commercial vehicles aged more than 15 years.
EV charging solutions provider Tata Power is powering electric vehicles of fans who are pulling up to the 2023 Cricket World Cup venues in their battery-powered models. The company has listed out its EV charging stations closest to all the World Cup venues across India. Thanks to the company’s extensive EV charging network, cricket fans are being encouraged to use green mobility.
By: HT Auto Desk | Updated on: 22 Oct 2023, 17:33 PM
A Mercedes EQC electric SUV charges at a Tata Power EZ EV charging station.
Tata Power’s nation-wide EV charging network is spread over 420 cities with more than 59,000 home chargers, 4,900 public and semi-public charging points, and 430 bus charging stations. These charging solutions are present at diverse and strategic locations across the country, providing easy accessibility to those in need.
ATata Power charging facility is located at The Oberoi Mumbai at Nariman Point, which is just 1.6 kilometres far from the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Similarly, a charging station is located two kilometres away from the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, 450 m away from the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru and 1.1 kilometres away from the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, 2.5 kilometres away from the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, 1.5 kilometres away from the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, to name a few.
The company says that it has been strategically installing EV charging points at diverse locations across the country to build an extensive and reliable network. All these charging stations are open 24 X 7 and monitored real-time by the Network Operation Centre located in Mumbai.
EV drivers can also navigate to their closest charging point using the EZ Charge app, book their charging slots in advance and pay with the EZ Charge card. “The hassle-free EZ Charge experience will ensure that fans can make the journey to witness their favourite teams play, knowing that their EVs will have the swift and EZ Charge they need,” said the company.
Tata Motors launched the Tata Nexon facelift in India a few weeks ago. The facelifted iteration of the Nexon SUV comes with a wide range of updates on the design front, while on the feature front too, it gets an array of fresh features powered by advanced technologies. With the facelift, Tata Nexon has certainly enhanced its appeal further, as well as the automaker ramped up the compact SUV’s competition against rivals like Maruti Suzuki Brezza.
By: HT Auto Desk | Updated on: 22 Oct 2023, 16:36 PM
Tata Nexon facelift has been launched with significant design updates and an array of fresh features adding more appeal to the compact SUV, and re-energising its competition against Maruti Suzuki Brezza.
Both the Maruti SuzukiBrezza and the TataNexon sit in a segment which is one of the most competitive categories in the Indian passenger vehicle market. With the rising demand for SUVs and crossovers over the last few years, several automakers have been aiming to grab a sizeable chunk of the Indian SUV segment with their products. However, both Tata Motors and Maruti Suzuki have been able to grab a lot of attention from buyers thanks to their products like Nexon and Brezza respectively.
Here is a comparison between the Tata Nexon facelift and Maruti Suzuki Brezza, based on feature and safety
Specifications Comparison
Tata Nexon
Maruti Suzuki Brezza
Engine
1199.0 to 1497.0 cc
1462.0 cc
Transmission
Manual & Automatic
Manual & Automatic
Mileage
N/A
N/A
Fuel Type
Petrol,Diesel
Petrol,CNG
Tata Nexon facelift vs Maruti Suzuki Brezza: Feature
Both the Tata Nexon facelift and Maruti Suzuki Brezza come equipped with an array of features. The Brezza gets a blend of classic design elements with modern touches. It gets an analogue instrument cluster paired with modern features such as a HUD and a nine-inch touchscreen infotainment system positioned at the centre top of the centre console.
Tata Motors, on the other hand, gets a fully digital instrument cluster, and a large 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The Nexon facelift carries several design elements from the Tata Curvv concept. However, it appears more inclined towards digitalisation compared to the Maruti Suzuki Brezza.
Watch: Tata Nexon facelift first drive review: Can it set the benchmark higher?
Both the compact SUVs come with features like climate control with rear AC vents, electric sunroof and wireless smartphone mirroring technology for the touchscreen infotainment system. Nexon comes with some additional comfort-focused features including the ventilated and height-adjustable front seats, and an illuminated logo-equipped multifunction steering wheel. The Brezza comes with LED fog lamps and HUD adding more value compared to the Nexon facelift.
Watch: 2022 Maruti Suzuki Brezza facelift: First Drive Review
Tata Nexon facelift vs Maruti Suzuki Brezza: Safety
Both the Tata Nexon facelift and Maruti Suzuki Brezza come equipped with a wide range of safety features including six airbags, ABS with EBD, traction control, ISOFIX child seat mounting points etc. The Nexon pre-facelift version received a five-star safety rating in the Global NCAP crash test. While the facelifted version is yet to undergo such a crash test, expect it to come with a more advanced safety quotient, as Tata Motors has hinted.
On the other hand, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza has not been subjected to either a Global NCAP or Bharat NCAP crash test so far. However, the pre-facelift model had scored a four-star rating on the Global NCAP crash test.
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.
Tata Harrier and Safari SUVs are the flagship models from the company in India.
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.
What’s new in the updated Tata Safari?
The updated Tata Safari stands on 19-inch alloy wheels and comes in multiple personas.
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.
What’s new in the updated Tata Harrier?
The updated Tata Harrier is offered in new and bolder body shades.
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.
Tata Motors has officially teased the facelifted version of the Harrier and Safari for the very first time. The manufacturer will start accepting bookings of the Harrier and Safari facelift on 6th October. The updated SUVs will come with a revamped design language that will look like Curvv. The interiors will also be updated and there is a possibility that Tata might also introduce the petrol engine finally.
By: Paarth Khatri | Updated on: 03 Oct 2023, 18:17 PM
The Harrier and Safari will now come with a connected lightbar in the front.
Tata will continue to sell the Harrier and Safari with a Fiat-sourced 2.0-litre diesel engine that produces 168 bhp and 350 Nm of peak torque. It comes mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission. There is a possibility that Tata will also introduce its new 1.5-litre petrol engine that uses direct-injection technology. It puts out 168 bhp and 280 Nm of peak torque.
The updated design language means that up-front there will be a split headlamp setup with the LED Daytime Running Lamp connected via a light bar. The main headlamp housing is new and is now positioned vertically. The grille on the Safari does look more up-market than the one found on the Harrier. It will probably be a big distinguishing factor between both the SUVs. On the sides, there will be a new set of alloy wheels. At the rear, it is expected that Tata will carry the same tail lamp setup but now there will be a connected lightbar.
The interior will also get a new steering wheel that has a digital Tata logo. There is a possibility that the manufacturer will bring in the new infotainment system and the digital instrument cluster from the Nexon to the Harrier and Safari. The HVAC controls will also be updated that debuted on the Nexon. Apart from this, the dashboard can be redesigned as well.
Tata Motors on Sunday announced in a regulatory filing that the automaker registered a five per cent sales slump in September in the passenger vehicle segment. The homegrown automobile manufacturer claims to have sold a total of 45,317 cars last month, down five per cent from 47,864 units registered in the same month a year ago.
By: HT Auto Desk | Updated on: 01 Oct 2023, 17:37 PM
Tata Motors is expecting to see sales growth during the festive season thanks to the new product launches.
Domestic sales of Tata Motors’ passenger vehicle sales in September were down by six per cent at 44,809 units. In comparison, the auto manufacturer sold 47,654 units in the same month last year. Export numbers in the segment have jumped 142 per cent to 508 units last month, up from 210 units registered in September last year.
Watch: 2023 Tata Nexon EV facelift first drive review: Best-seller gets even better?
Total passenger vehicle sales in the second quarter of the current financial year too were down by three per cent to 138,939 units, as compared to 142,851 units sold between July and September 2023. Domestic sales of Tata passenger vehicles were down by 2.7 per cent to 137,950 units in the same period, as compared to 142,325 units recorded in the corresponding period of last fiscal.
While the overall passenger vehicle sales slumped marginally for the homegrown automobile manufacturer, sales of electric vehicles have recorded impressive growth. Tata Motors has registered a whopping 57 per cent growth in the electric vehicle segment with its models like the Nexon EV, Tigor EV and Tiago EV. The automaker claims to have sold 6,050 electric cars last month, up from 3,864 EVs sold in the same month a year ago. In the second quarter of the current financial year, Tata Motors sold 18,615 electric cars, up 55 per cent from 12,041 units sold in the same period a year ago.
Watch: Tata Nexon facelift first drive review: Can it set the benchmark higher?
Speaking about the sales performance, Shailesh Chandra, Managing Director of Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd. and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd., said that the PV sales remained strong in the second quarter of this financial year thanks to the new product launches. “Passenger vehicle sales remained strong in Q2 FY24 driven by new launches and pre-festive offtakes. Tata Motors posted quarterly sales of 138,939 cars and SUVs in Q2 FY24, 2.7 per cent below our highest-ever quarter, Q2 FY23. Our EV business continues its strong momentum and has posted growth of about 55 per cent year-on-year. In Q2 FY24, we extended our innovative twin-cylinder CNG offering to Tiago, Tigor and Punch, which have been received well by the market. This quarter also saw the launch of the new generation Nexon and Nexon.ev, which have received an overwhelming market response. We had proactively reduced supplies of the outgoing models this quarter to enable a smooth transition to the new generation models,” he said further adding that with the deliveries commencing of its new products, Tata Motors is expecting higher sales volumes in the festive season and beyond.
Under this initiative, Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) has embarked on a meticulously designed program to conduct operational trials of 15 Fuel Cell buses powered by Green hydrogen.
These trials will encompass designated routes in Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. The project’s inaugural moment saw the launch of the first set of two fuel cell buses from India Gate. This program is the first of its kind in India to dispense green hydrogen at 350 bar pressure for operating fuel cell buses.
Furthermore, Indian Oil has established a cutting-edge dispensing facility at its research and development (R&D) campus in Faridabad. This facility can refuel green hydrogen produced through electrolysis using solar photovoltaic panels.
According to SM Vaidya, Chairman of Indian Oil, the launch of these two buses signifies the commencement of a comprehensive assessment of the performance and durability of this new technology. The trial period, spanning more than 3 lakh kilometres across all buses, will generate vital data that will serve as a national repository.
This repository is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of zero-emission mobility in India, powered by green hydrogen. In his address, Hardeep Singh Puri emphasized, the Indian government’s commitment to clean and green energy. Hardeep Singh Puri said, “The Future of our transport will be on green hydrogen”.
BMW is among the automakers who have been working on hydrogen fuel cell technology over the last few years, as hydrogen could be a potential green and clean fuel for future cars.
India’s endeavours in the realm of low-carbon development, including emerging fuels like hydrogen and biofuels, are central to these efforts. Puri said, “India has one of the largest synchronous grids in the world, capable of handling intermittent renewable energy and we have achieved ‘One Nation-One Grid-One Frequency’.”
India, with its extensive synchronous grid capable of handling intermittent renewable energy, is poised to be a global champion in hydrogen production and exports. “We have recently witnessed the launch of the world’s first Bharat Stage 6 (BS 6) (Stage II) Electrified Flex Fuel vehicle prototype that encompasses both the flex fuel engine as well as an electric powertrain that offers higher use of ethanol combined with better fuel efficiencies. With Industry and Government collaboration, India is on its way to becoming a global hub for cleaner technologies and achieving self-reliance in energy soon”, Puri said.
Hydrogen, hailed as the fuel of the future, holds immense potential in helping India achieve its decarbonization targets. The global demand for hydrogen is projected to surge four to seven times by 2050, reaching 500-800 million tonnes. Domestically, demand is set to quadruple, from the current 6 million tonnes to 25-28 million tonnes by 2050.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is actively driving initiatives related to green hydrogen, including production and utilization in refineries, hydrogen blending in natural gas pipelines, localization of electrolyzer-based technologies, and promoting bio-pathways for green hydrogen production.
Fuel cells, the heart of these green hydrogen-powered buses, employ hydrogen and air to generate electricity for propulsion.
These buses are environmentally friendly, with the only byproduct being water, offering a stark contrast to conventional buses running on diesel and petrol.
Fuel cells are also highly efficient compared to internal combustion engines. Fuel cells boast an electrical efficiency of 55-60 per cent, a notable improvement over the thermal efficiency of 25 per cent for conventional internal combustion engines.
These buses are set to achieve a remarkable fuel economy of around 12 km per kilogram of hydrogen, compared to 2.5-3 km per litre for diesel buses.
Hardeep Singh Puri commended IOCL and Tata Motors for their collaborative efforts in developing indigenous solutions for fuel cells and hydrogen infrastructure for heavy-duty buses in passenger transport applications.
Puri stated, “I would like to congratulate the IOCL team for undertaking this collaborative approach along with Tata Motors for the development of indigenous solutions pertaining to Fuel Cell and hydrogen infrastructure in the country, for heavy-duty buses for passenger transport application. I am sure that the ecosystem developed through efforts like these can integrate a larger economy with the energy sector”.
He stressed that this green hydrogen-powered bus initiative could potentially transform India into a net exporter of clean hydrogen energy and set a global precedent in technology transfer and green hydrogen production.
The initiative has plans to soon operate an additional 15 fuel cell buses in the National Capital Region (NCR). Minister Puri expressed his commitment to closely monitoring this project, highlighting its importance on the national stage and its potential to revolutionize city transport in India.
India’s foray into green hydrogen technology signifies a significant stride toward achieving energy self-reliance and global leadership in the realm of sustainable energy solutions.
Tata Motors has tasted pretty good success with the Nexon EV. The pure electric version of the compact SUV was launched as the first-ever electric car from the homegrown brand. Since its launch, the Nexon EV has helped the automaker to grab around 80 per cent of the Indian electric car market. The facelifted iteration of the car aims to further strengthen the company’s grip in the segment.
Watch: 2023 Tata Nexon EV facelift first drive review: Best-seller gets even better?
Here is a price comparison between the 2023 Tata Nexon Ev facelift and its closest competitor Mahindra XUV400.
2023 Tata Nexon EV facelift vs Mahindra XUV400: Price
The 2023 Tata Nexon EV facelift is priced between ₹14.74 lakh and ₹19.94 lakh (ex-showroom). Available in six trim options, the SUV comes available in two different powertrain variants: Long Range and Mid Range. The Nexon Ev facelift trims are Creative Plus, Fearless, Fearless Plus, Fearless Plus S, Empowered and Empowered Plus.
On the other hand, the Mahindra XUV400 comes available in trim options: EC Standard, EC Fast and EL (Long Range). This electric compact SUV is available at a pricing range of ₹15.99 lakh and ₹19.19 lakh (ex-showroom).
The all-new 2023 Tata Nexon EV facelift clearly comes undercutting its closest rival Mahindra XUV400 EV, as the base variant of the Nexon EV facelift, which is the Creative Plus is priced lower than the Mahindra XUV400 EV’s base variant EC Standard that comes priced at ₹15.99 lakh (ex-showroom).
Maruti Suzuki plans to invest a whopping ₹45,000 crore to double its annual production capacity in the next eight years, reported PTI. Maruti Suzuki India’s chairman RC Bhargava reportedly said on Tuesday that the automaker plans to produce 40 lakh cars annually by 2031 with the influx of investment it is making to double production capacity. This comes at a juncture when the Indian auto industry like the rest of the global automobile industry is witnessing the introduction of new technologies and Maruti Suzuki is aiming to take a lead in that.
By: HT Auto Desk | Updated on: 29 Aug 2023, 15:25 PM
Besides focusing on doubling production capacity to 40 lakh cars annually by 2031, Maruti Suzuki is also emphasising on development of new technology for its vehicle fleet.
Despite being the largest car brand in India, Maruti Suzuki is yet to penetrate the EV segment, while Tata Motors, Hyundai, MG Motors and Mahindra along with several luxury car brands have already launched their respective products in the country’s electric car segment. Speaking about this, Bhargava accepted that the company is late in the segment but believes that it will not impact the brand by damaging its ability to get an adequate market share in the space.
Watch: Maruti unveiled eVX EV Concept at Auto Expo 2023
He also said that Maruti Suzuki aims to launch six electric cars by the decade’s end, which would give it a strong position in the market. “Yes, we are behind some companies in launching EV but that does not mean that we are late in the market or that when we are coming in 2024-25, we will have in any way damaged our ability to get an adequate market share,” he added.
As Maruti Suzuki is thriving towards greener and cleaner powertrain technology, it will increasingly focus on a wide range of new technologies including electric vehicles, hybrids, CNG, ethanol and compressed biogas in the coming days, said Bhargava. Speaking about these technologies, he also said that it is difficult to predict what will happen in the next eight to ten years.
Bhargava also said that Maruti Suzuki has reached the 20 lakh units annual production and sales milestone. Now, it is aiming to double that figure by reaching the 40 lakh units annual production and sales milestone, he said. The plan will be part of the automaker’s ‘Maruti 3.0’ strategy, under which the company is targeting to add another 20 lakh units of production capacity with about 28 different car models in the market by FY 2030-31.
The Maruti Suzuki chairman said that the era ahead is going to be a very uncertain and challenging one. “The era before us is going to be a very uncertain era, a very challenging era. Putting up these two million cars itself will cost us something close to ₹45,000 crore. It depends how inflation goes but at the moment we estimate the cost about ₹45,000 crore for two million cars,” Bhargava said.
Powering the Punch iCNG is a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder engine that produces 84.82 bhp of max power and a peak torque output of 113 Nm while running on petrol. On CNG, the power output falls to 75.94 bhp whereas the torque output decreases to 97 Nm. The engine comes mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox or a 5-speed AMT. However, the CNG powertrain only gets a 5-speed AMT.
One of the biggest distinguishing features of Tata’s iCNG range is the use of dual-cylinder tech. Instead of using one large CNG cylinder, Tata Motors is using two small 30-litre cylinders which means the total capacity is rated for 60 litres. The cylinders are placed in the floor well of the boot. This means that there is still a usable boot space available for the occupants to store their luggage and other stuff.
Being a Tata, the CNG vehicles also come with several safety features. It gets a leak detection feature and Tata is using high-quality stainless steel and rust and corrosion-resistant materials. There is also thermal incident protection in which the CNG supply to the engine is cut off automatically and the gas in the cylinder is released into the atmosphere automatically. There is also a microswitch that makes sure that the car does not start if the fuel lid is open.
Cosmetically, the brand has not made any changes apart from the new iCNG badging. The cabin gets a CNG button that is used to switch the fuel supply from CNG to petrol or vice versa. The instrument cluster is updated to show a CNG gauge.
The Tata Punch CNG will come with twin-cylinder technology that brings two 30-litre tanks under the boot space, for a more practical storage solution
Commenting on the launch, Mr. Vinay Pant, Head-Marketing, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd., said: “Building further on our success with the Altroz iCNG, and to make the CNG segment even more hotly contested, we are excited to introduce the twin cylinder technology in not just one but three products today – the Tiago, Tigor and the much awaited and loved sub compact SUV, the Tata Punch. Since its debut at the Auto Expo 2023, the Punch iCNG has been one of the most awaited products in this segment. With its uncompromised boot space and high end feature upgrades, the Punch iCNG demonstrates the go anywhere attitude of an SUV, which is engineered to meet the constantly evolving requirements of customers, who are tech savvy and demand best in class features along with an environment friendly and economical product. I am confident that these introductions put together will make our CNG line up appealing, holistic and stronger than ever.”
Tata Motors-owned British luxury car brand Jaguar aims to bounce back from mediocrity. To achieve that target, the automaker plans to tap rich American buyers with polarizing designs. Auto News has reported that the automaker is targeting 20 million millionaires in the US who could be its potential customers in an attempt to salvage the brand. Jaguar Land Rover CEO Adrian Mardell believes that chasing volume has impacted the brand negatively and in a revised strategy, the company aims to change that situation.
The report has quoted Mardell saying that Jaguar will aim for a lower volume and higher price positioning, which will be the right thing to do for the company. This would make the Jaguar cars more elusively premium, raising the bar. He pointed to the fact that during the 1990s, Jaguar was highly successful in the North American market, when its cars were more expensive and targeted a wealthier demographic than the brand has been chasing for the last 20 years.
The JLR chief further conceded that the automaker’s strategy to chase volume during the previous two decades, first under Ford and then Tata Motors, has resulted in it losing touch with the wealthy car buyer community. He also admitted that it is a lot of work to build that brand equity. In order to bring back the luxury glory to the brand, Jaguar is focusing on fearless designs, which would be conceived to shock and reengage wealthy buyers.
The auto company’s design chief Gerry McGovern said that the brand will not worry about being loved by everybody. “What we will not worry about is being loved by everybody, because that is the kiss of death,” he said further adding that this is what has put Jaguar in the situation it is in today, which is with no equity whatsoever.
