Tata Motors is planning to price its all-electric SUV Tata Avinya at around Rs 25 lakh, Moneycontrol reported citing sources. The report added that the vehicle may be projected as a rival to Tesla’s Model 3, the company’s most affordable car so far.
However, Tata Motors has not officially disclosed the pricing of the vehicle, which it plans to launch in FY27. The five-seater Tata Avinya was first unveiled in April 2022 and marks the debut of Tata’s Gen 3 architecture.
With the Elon Musk-founded company planning to sell EVs in India, its Model 3 is being touted as the first car that may be launched in the market. The vehicle is expected to be price at Rs 30 lakh in India. The company is planning to import cars and start sales from April this year.
With Tata Avinya, India’s largest passenger EV maker is claiming to provide “next-generation connectivity, advanced driver assistance systems and enhanced performance and efficiency.”
The vehicle will offer high structural safety with strong waterproofing and dust protection, the company has said.
Also, it boasts of “next-gen materials, efficient electronic componentry, and proprietary energy management strategies & algorithms for efficiency management” being used in the vehicle.
The battery used in Tata Avinya’s, the company says, will support an ultra-fast charge capability, pumping a minimum 500 kms range in under 30 minutes.
Tesla’s entry into the Indian market is expected to impact the premium EV segment in the country. The government is offering reduced import tariff at 15% on EVs if a company pledges investment of at least $500 million.
Tesla’s plan to enter the Indian market was put on hold since 2019 due to the high import taxes on electric vehicles. India earlier levied a 60% import tax on electric vehicles priced $40,000 or less, and 100% on those priced above $40,000.
In 2022, Musk had said that he wanted to launch cars in India but the country’s import duties on EVs are “highest in the world by far”.
In March 2024, the Centre had reduced import duties on vehicles to lure global electric vehicle players to the manufacture EVs in India. Early this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also met Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Soon after the company had posted on its website various job openings in Delhi and Mumbai. The job roles ranged from Service Advisor and Parts Advisor to Tesla Advisor, Customer Support Supervisor and Delivery Operations Specialist.
Since then, it is expected that Tesla may open is first stores in the two cities. According to reports, Tesla has selected the locations for its stores in Delhi and Mumbai. Various state governments have also approached the company, offering to help set up its manufacturing facility.
