Tata Motors Unveils E-Vision Sedan at Geneva: India’s Tesla?

Tata Motors E-Vision Electric sedan has a claimed range of between 380 to 450 km on a single charge.

Tata Motors E-Vision Electric Sedan showcases its future design language. 

(Photo: The Quint)

Tata Motors has unveiled an electric sedan based on its new alpha platform at the 88th Geneva International Motor Show that is underway in Geneva.

Watch The Quint’s Facebook Live from the big unveil:

The E-Vision Electric Sedan was showcased alongside two other future products from Tata – the H5X SUV and the 45X hatchback.

The E-Vision sedan shows the future design direction that Tata cars could take. The traditional design elements of Tata cars continues – like a sleek humanity line (smiley face grille) connecting the slim LED headlamps.

The E-Vision electric sedan from Tata Motors has recessed door handles. (Photo: The Quint)

It has a flowing coupe-like styling, with a massive panoramic roof that lets in light. At the rear, the slim tail lamps wrap around the boot along with the shoulder line.

At 4.8 metres, it is a large vehicle and is based on a stretched version of one of Tata's two new platforms for future products – the alpha platform. The Omega platform is what the SUVs will use (such as the H5X SUV).

Ratan Tata at the unveiling of the E-Vision electric sedan. (Photo: The Quint)

Last year we redefined our product platform. We have two platforms Alpha and Omega. Alpha will be for all products less than 4.3 metres, while Omega is for our SUVs. Here at Geneva we are showing three products based on these platforms. The 45X will be launched next year, while the H5X will be launched later this year. 

Mayank Pareek, President Passenger Vehicle Business, Tata Motors 

The wood and leather finish looks premium on the interiors. Notice the LCD display for passengers. (Photo: The Quint)

What's interesting is the interiors of the E-Vision sedan. Although this is a concept, a lot of what was shown in the car could make it to production models as well. The concept used a lot of wood and leather, giving it a premium feel.

The instrument cluster is a full LCD unit. At first look, the centre console appears to have no infotainment system – but only until a full-touch panel slides out of the dash. In front of the co-drive is another slim LCD screen that shows infotainment information and enables GPS readouts.

Rear seat legroom is good, thanks to a full flat floor under which the batteries are stored. (Photo: The Quint)

The floor of the E-Vision concept is fully flat (owing to the battery pack of the car being stored under floor, therefore not needing a transmission tunnel). This frees up a lot of legroom for passengers. When a middle passenger is not seated at the rear, the armrest drops down to reveal another infotainment screen for rear seat passengers.

Tata's E-Vision concept sedan has a dual motor layout (so it is technically all-wheel drive). It is powered by lithium-ion batteries, which gives it a claimed range of 450 Km on a single charge. The concept has large 20-inch wheels all around, with disc brakes.

The E-Vision could go into production by 2020. According to Rajendra M Petkar, CTO & Head Power Systems Engineering at Tata Motors, there will be an inflection point where adoption of electric cars will take off.

There has to be adequate localisation for battery costs to come down. We believe that between 2020 and 2025, there will be an inflection point where electric vehicles will see faster adoption. We have to be ready for that scenario. 

Rajendra M Petkar, CTO & Head Power System Engineering at Tata Motors

The Tata 45X hatchback (right) and H5X SUV at the Geneva Motor Show. (Photo: The Quint)

Besides the E-Vision sedan, Tata also showcased the H5X SUV, which will likely be launched in India by April 2019. It also showed the 45X hatchback. Both these vehicles were on display at the Auto Expo in New Delhi as well.

(Disclosure: The author has been invited by Tata Motors to cover the Geneva Motor Show 2018)

(Hey there, lady! What makes you laugh? Do you laugh at sexism, patriarchy, and misogyny? Do 'sanskaari' stereotypes crack you up? This Women's Day, join The Quint's Ab Laugh Naari campaign. Pick up that beer, say cheers, and send us photographs or videos of you laughing out loud at [e-mail])