Tata Motors, India’s biggest commercial vehicle maker, will launch a bigger and more powerful version of the electric Ace on Thursday. This move is poised to bolster the company’s presence in the electric vehicle (EV) last-mile mobility segment.
Tata Motors will launch the 1.0 tonne electric Ace with a bigger payload and a slightly bigger drive range, said two sources. This new model will put it directly against the slightly bigger, but yet-to-be-launched IeV 3 made by Ashok Leyland-backed Switch Mobility.
The Ace EV 1.0 launch, which will happen at the Tata Motors plant in Pantnagar, comes just two years after the Mumbai-based company debuted in the electric mini truck space with the Ace EV with a payload of 0.6 tonne.
Sources said that the Ace EV 1.0 would sport newer applications as people who were using the 0.6 tonne desired a higher payload. The price of the Ace EV 1.0 will be disclosed on Thursday. The company has invited several fleet buyers for the unveiling.
“Earlier only institutional buyers were able to buy the Ace EV but now anyone can buy it as the new Ace EV 1.0 will be open to retail buyers as well,” said the source.
Tata Motors has improved the driving range to over 160 km per full charge as against 150 km per full charge of the smaller Ace EV. The vehicle will be sold through all of Tata Motors’ dealerships which is more than 1000.
The reach will also give the market leader an edge over Ashok Leyland as Switch Mobility intends to extend the sales of its own EV mini trucks to 100 outlets by the end of this year. Moreover, the Chennai-based company has not opened sales to small retail customers who intend to buy 1-2 units.
A mail sent to Tata Motors remained unanswered at the time of going to press.
