The Tata Harrier EV has officially been announced, with Tata Motors' return to the 4WD landscape for the first time in five years. What people are really talking about is the QWD (Quad Wheel Drive) version of the electric SUV, which features dual motors (one on each axle) that will feed power to all four wheels.
Tata believes that the advanced tech driving this all-wheel drive vehicle will help drive significant changes in purchase behavior within the electric vehicle segment.
When Tata launched the Harrier EV, Vivek Srivatsa, CCO of Tata's passenger EV business, said the QWD variant could comprise as much as 20% of total Harrier EV sales. That's a strong number, especially considering 4WD variants of petrol and diesel internal combustion engine (ICE) SUVs generally make up a single-digit percentage of total sales and are only considered buy-ups for hardcore 'off-roaders'.
Why QWD Could Be a Game Changer for Tata
Importantly, Srivatsa pointed out that QWD, as opposed to a mechanical 4x4 system, does not exist in a vacuum. Thanks to the fact that electric all-wheel-drive offers instantaneous torque and the ability to offer more precise motor response times, their all-wheel-drive electric systems not only improve off-road performance but also improve the handling of an SUV on-road.
And this is not just an adventure play. Tata's strategy is to market QWD as a true two-in-one offering, giving buyers off-road capability and sporty characteristics on the road, understanding that modern Indian SUV buyers increasingly want a single product that delivers everything.
The QWD Branding Across Future Tata EVs
Tata has also announced that QWD will be the brand name for all future AWD tech across its range of SUVs. However, the branding might be different for each model and/or use case, similar to Suzuki's AllGrip, which is graded (Auto, Select and Pro) depending on the performance level.
As of today, the only price confirmed is for the base Harrier EV with a 65 kWh battery. The QWD version will have a larger 75 kWh battery and the price has not yet been released. As competition heats up in the EV SUV segments, Tata's bet on QWD can raise the bar in combining performance with utility.
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