Tata Motors Plans To Launch Electric Vista And Ace In Europe
Tata Motors intends to step into the electric vehicle segment with the launch of its Tata Indica Vista electric models
. The company is planning to launch the electric versions of its Indica and Ace in Europe this year. Mr Ravi Kant, Vice-Chairman, was quoted saying that the company would start retailing electric vehicles in the UK and Scandinavian nations. He also said that Indica Vista is likely to be launched in UK this September-October.
The electric versions of Indica Vista and the Ace pick-up are in the last stage of development. The Vista EV was displayed by the company in 2009 at the Geneva Motor Show. Likewise, the Ace EV was displayed at Zaragosa in 2008.
Since the British government has started promoting electric vehicles under the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Grant Programme, UK has developed as one of the main targets for such launches. It has indeed being recognised as a place which is giving a perfect platform for vehicles like Vista and Ace. It is also worth mentioning here that Tata Motors European Technical Centre had received a GBP 10 million loan for developing Indica Vista EV in UK.
The electric vehicle projects of Tata Motors have received inputs from the Norway-based Miljo Grenland. Tata Motors has a 72 per cent stake in Miljo Grenland. Due to a good infrastructure places like Norway, Denmark and Sweden are more EV-friendly. But according to the sources, the company has no plans of introducing the electric Nano. For its luxury brands Jaguar and Land Rover, Tata Motors has planned a hybrid programme.