If there is a single automobile manufacturer in India that can receive an award for offering the maximum number of variants under a specific model, it would be Tata Motors. The reason is that the company used to believe in providing as many options as possible so that there is a variant for all. That, however, leads to confusion among customers throughout their buying process.
Following a careful assessment of market reaction, Tata Motors has made a strategic choice to withdraw all ACFC versions of the Punch EV. This is to enhance customer clarity at the time of buying, enabling customers to make faster and well-informed decisions. This will also make the grade walk easier, according to a notice released by Tata Motors to its dealer partners.
More Information on this
There were 6 ACFC (AC Fast Charging) variants with Punch EV – Adventure LR ACFC, Adventure S LR ACFC, Empowered LR ACFC, Empowered S LR ACFC, Empowered+ LR ACFC, and Empowered+ S LR ACFC. All six of these variants that were available with a 7.2 kW fast charger will be discontinued.
What will happen to the existing stock?
The company previously charged about Rs 50,000 for this 7.2 kW fast charger with Punch EV compared to a non-ACFC variant of the same trim level.
For Long Range models, this 7.2 kW AC fast charger reduces charging time to just 5 hours (10%-100% SOC).
Non-ACFC models will take 13.5 hours for the same.
As per the market study, Tata has said goodbye to these ACFC models. But dealerships' existing stock of ACFC variants remains available for purchase until stocks are available. Prices of Tata Punch EV non-ACFC variants will probably not change, since they are not impacted by this update.
Conclusion
Tata Motors' decision to phase out the ACFC variants of the Punch EV is a big change in its strategy to rationalize offerings and make customer choices simpler. Although this action may minimize variant confusion, it also reflects Tata's attempt to act on market feedback and evolving consumer tastes. Buyers seeking quicker charging capacity may have limited time to snap up the remaining ACFC-fitted models before they disappear from dealerships. In the future, Tata appears intent on streamlining its lineup into a more rational and less confusing product portfolio, allowing consumers to more easily select an appropriate EV for their requirements.
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