India’s passenger vehicle industry to see less than 5% growth in FY25, says Tata

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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 Tiago
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.”

First Published Date: 25 Feb 2024, 15:57 PM IST

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Updated Tata Safari and Harrier SUVs to launch on October 17

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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 Safari Tata Harrier
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 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 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.

First Published Date: 12 Oct 2023, 11:37 AM IST

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Tata Motors opens bookings for Harrier and Safari facelift SUVs

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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.

2023 Tata Harrier Safari
Tata Harrier facelift (left) and Safari facelift (right) SUVs are expected to be launched in India in the next couple of weeks.

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.

Tata Harrier, Safari facelift: Design updates

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.

Tata Harrier, Safari facelift: Interior and features

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.

Tata Harrier, Safari facelift: Safety features

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.

Tata Harrier, Safari facelift: Engine

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

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