Tata Motors has unveiled its latest offering in the fast-growing mid-SUV segment, the Tata Curvv SUV Coupe. Speaking on the sidelines of the launch, Shailesh Chandra, Managing Director of Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, expressed confidence in achieving a 30% EV penetration target by 2030.
Outlook for EV Sales
What is your outlook for EV sales for the second half of FY25 and the share of EVs as a percentage of overall FY25 sales?
We have a long-term direction of attaining 30% plus EV penetration by 2030, and directionally, we are moving closer to that target. There is no specific H2 target. As you know, the PV industry is growing at a slow pace. As a result, EVs in that space will also grow accordingly. We have a series of new launches in the pipeline and we are optimistic that our growth rate will be much better than the industry.
Diesel Strategy
The Curvv gets the 1.5 diesel engine. Is there a rethink in terms of the Tata Motors diesel strategy?
We never exited diesel. We always said that diesel will remain popular in SUVs and we will offer it till diesel is viable. People love paying more money for a diesel car still, given that it has better fuel efficiency and the drive experience is punchier. So as long as there is demand, we will exist in each of the segments in which diesel is still relevant.
Demand Dynamics
Is there a drop in sales of smaller cars, and what are the demand dynamics, especially for the Punch?
Punch is the highest-selling vehicle in the country between April to July. This is the highest-growing segment in the country, even more than the mid-size SUV segment, in the first four months of the fiscal. The growth rate of the Punch segment, driven by “Punch,” is nearly 70%, in a market that is growing at 2-3%. Rural demand is likely to remain strong on the back of a steady monsoon. So that is actually a tailwind for the auto industry.
Synergies from Demerger
The Tata Motors board approved the demerger of PV and CV businesses – if you could explain the synergies for Tata Motors.
The synergies between the CV and PV business are diminishing and we are seeing increasing synergy between JLR, PV, and EVs – all three entities. Therefore, it made sense to demerge and rather focus on these synergies. We clearly see a lot of joint work in the world of electrification. We see a lot of synergy between JLR and Tata Motors in the new electronic architecture, which is emerging in the world of pure EV architectures. Therefore, this is a very logical demerger that is happening at the right time, I would say.
Hybrids vs. EVs
Are hybrids a viable option at the current juncture?
It is a 20-year-old technology. Not even comparable at a juncture where the industry has leap-frogged to EVs. It should not be compared with EVs, especially because for hybrids, 100% of the source of energy is coming from petrol. CNG is significantly cleaner than hybrids. Those who want to sell might continue selling. We don’t want to sell. With 12% electric penetration, we have significant headroom. It is a two-decade-old technology that found relevance because somebody was late in joining the move to electric and would have to face a penalty. So they have to come up with a hybrid. We don’t want to discuss it.
Tata Motors is focused on driving future growth through a balanced strategy involving electric vehicles and diesel offerings, with a clear long-term vision for EV penetration and continued relevance of diesel in certain segments.
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