Tata Motors Reveals New Indica EV at Bologna Motor Show, Boasts 124 Mile Range

Debuting at this week's Bologna Motor Show was an all-new electric vehicle by India's Tata Motors called the Indica EV. The plug-in model was built as a result of the automaker's recent majority ownership of Norwegian electric-vehicle-technology company Miljo Grenland/Innovasjon.



Tata's EV employs high capacity lithium ion batteries featuring what the brand calls super polymer cells. With these advanced power supplies, Tata says the small four-passenger car can travel 200 km (124 mi) on a single eight hour charge and can hit 60 mph in a claimed less than 10 sec.

Currently no price has been set, as further testing is still underway. Tata expects to launch the Indica EV next summer.

Volkswagen Caddy – the New Commercial Car from Volkswagen

“India deserves a good taxi,” said Stefan Schaller, board spokesman for VW’s commercial vehicles business.

Volkswagen is planning to launch a new car in India, the Volkswagen Caddy as a low cost taxi for urban use. The commercial arm of Volkswagen may soon launch its new model, the VW Caddy, in India via a joint venture with an Indian partner.



The new Caddy will be a viable alternative to Tata Indigo and Tata Indica currently being used by Indian taxi operators. This would mark entry of the company in the Rs 43,000 crore commercial vehicle market in India. The existing model of VW caddy does not have any windows at the back – the windows are only in the front, but this mainly due to taxation rules in Europe. The existing model of the VW Caddy in the UK may not be feasible in India and the Indian version may come with a few modifications. Volkswagen has already announced that it plans to expand its network and product portfolio in India to occupy a larger market share. It had also announced that it will enter the commercial vehicle market in India as well.

VW Caddy has a seating capacity of seven passengers and is like a delivery van and a compact van rolled into one. Volkswagen has not announced its prices or other details but the car is expected to be priced around Rs.8-9 lakh in India.

Tata Motors unveils electric versions of Indica and Ace

Domestic auto major Tata Motors on Wednesday unveiled the electric versions of passenger car 'Indica' and commercial vehicle 'Ace'.

The company has indicated that the electric Indica would be launched locally in about two years, without disclosing the price. The vehicle would be launched in Norway next year.

Tata Motor's President Ravi Kant told reporters that Norway has the necessary infrastructure in place to run electric cars.

The vehicles run on lithium batteries that were co developed by a Norwegian alternative fuel company and Tata Motor's research facility in the UK.

Tata’s to launch New Indica Today

Tata Motors’ much awaited new Indica which is christened Indica Vista will be launched today.

The launch, which is almost a year late from its initial schedule, comes at a time when sale of the 10-year-old Indica brand is declining in recent months. Indica reported a 32 per cent drop at 7,525 units in July.

India’s first indigenous car Indica was launched in 1998 and the millionth car on Indica platform was launched in November 2007.

It is reported that the Indica Vista comes with three engines — 1.2L Safire (petrol) and 1.3L Quadrajet (diesel) which are sourced from Fiat and the 1.4L TDI which currently powers existing Indica. Indica Vista which will be available in three variants is expected to be priced between Rs 3.5 lakh and Rs 5 lakh.

The car will be pitched against Hyundai Getz and Maruti’s Swift at the high end of compact car segment. “To a certain extent, the launch of new Indica may help the company revive its passenger car sales which off late showed 14-15 per cent decline particularly since it happens after so many years,” said an analyst.

“However, pricing will be an important factor in the success of the new launch. It also depends on how bug-free the new car is. Every manufacturer has some loyal customers who are waiting for the new launches. Therefore, there would be an increase in sales for the first three months,” he said.