Tata Motors has made rapid strides in the Indian auto industry in recent years with a wide range of products that excel in terms of styling and powertrains. So while the company offers the Tiago and Punch at one end of the price spectrum, there are also hugely popular Harrier and Safari SUVs. But not every model is offered with every engine option available. The Harrier and Safari, for example, only have diesel engines.
For a company with gasoline and diesel engines, a giant leader in the electric vehicle segment and also a deep dive into the world of CNG technology, Tata Motors is trying to be precise in its diverse range. . Therefore and at this time, the company has no plans to introduce gasoline engines in its large SUVs such as the Harrier and Safari.
Rajan Amba, VP of Marketing, Sales and Customer Service admits there may be a gasoline-powered customer base for the Harrier and Safari is giving clear instructions but also points out why SUVs This diesel engine only. “Look, I’m sure we’re missing out. There is no doubt about that. (But) It is very difficult to meet all customer expectations. When we try to do that, we end up complicating our portfolio to the point of being difficult to manage for our dealer partners,” he told HT Auto. “We use a lot of science and analysis to build the right portfolio. most suitable.”
Watch: From Electric Vehicles to CNG Vehicles: Explaining Tata Motors’ Strategy for India
Amba further explains that customers looking for models like the Harrier and Safari tend to prefer diesel engines. He also added that customers looking for gasoline engines can opt for electric technology, an area where Tata Motors has impressively led. “Given the company’s growing investment in electric vehicles, we see no reason why customers looking for gas in these vehicles should switch to the electric version.”
It’s a bit of a surprise, then, that Tata Motors introduced the Harrier EV at Auto Expo 2023 earlier this month and is looking to roll it out to a production version in a few years’ time. And in the meantime, many of its closest rivals are currently just trying to up the challenge. Maruti Suzukifor example, has a strategy of using only petrol engines and will have its first electric vehicle in India by 2025. Hyundai offers the recently launched Kona EV and Ioniq 5 even if both models are considered as quite upscale and out of reach of the masses. Mahindra XUV400 just launched. Then there is MG Motor India which offers the ZS EV and there are plans to phase out the MG Air. Citroen eC3 is expected to have a sub $Prices start at 10 lakh and will officially launch in February.
First published date: January 25, 2023, 12:15 pm IST
