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    eCar Import Duty To Reduce From 110% to 15% – Govt to Notify New EV Policy

    Image – Supercars Of IndiaThe Indian government is set to notify its new Electric Vehicle (EV) policy, which aims to lower import duties and attract global players like Tesla. The policy is expected to mandate a minimum turnover of Rs 2,500 crore by the second year and require an investment of Rs 4,150 crore from interested manufacturers.
    Lower Duties to Attract Investment
    The proposed policy will allow companies to set up assembly operations in existing factories but will exclude past investments and land or building costs from the required investment amount. Manufacturers meeting the criteria will qualify for a 15% import duty—a significant reduction from the current 110% tariff, reports Economic Times.
    Past investments will not count
    Companies will have 120 days to apply, with the policy allowing annual imports of up to 8,000 premium EVs (priced above $35,000) at reduced duties. Approved applicants must establish manufacturing facilities within three years and achieve 25% local value addition, which must rise to 50% within five years.
    Progressive Turnover Targets
    The policy also outlines progressive turnover milestones, requiring:
    – Rs 2,500 crore by the second year– Rs 5,000 crore by the fourth year– Rs 7,500 crore by the fifth year
    Approval letters could be issued by July-August, paving the way for imported EVs to enter India soon after. Tesla is widely seen as a key beneficiary of this policy. Reports suggest that Tesla is planning to enter India in April 2025, with an affordable EV priced at Rs 21-22 lakh.
    The company has reportedly chosen Mumbai and Delhi as its initial showroom locations. Tesla Inc. will be shipping a few thousand cars to a port near Mumbai in the coming months, reports Bloomberg. The US automaker plans to begin sales in Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore around the third quarter of 2025.
    Other Automakers Show Interest
    Hyundai and Volkswagen have also expressed interest in the policy during government discussions, but their investment plans remain uncertain. With the government fast-tracking EV adoption, this policy could open doors for global EV players, boost local manufacturing, and make premium EVs more accessible to Indian buyers.
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    Kia PV5 Electric Van Debuts – Cargo and Passenger Variants

    Kia PV5 CargoTaking its EV game to the next level, Kia has just unveiled its first-ever electric van. Called PV5, it is Kia’s first PBV (Platform Beyond Vehicle), which is destined to break cover at Kia EV Day on February 27th in Tarragona, Spain. Ahead of Kia EV Day, the company has shared first official pictures of PV5. Let’s take a closer look.
    ?Kia PV5 Electric Van Debuted
    As seen in the official pictures, only exteriors have been revealed, while interiors are likely to be shown at Kia EV Day on 27th February in Tarragona, Spain. PV5 is offered in both Passenger and Cargo versions, as seen in these pictures. Kia PV5 was first previewed at CES 2024 and is Kia’s first offering under their PBV business strategy.
    Kia PV5 Passenger
    With PV5 Passenger and Cargo, Kia aims to redefine the concepts of space and mobility by leveraging Kia’s renowned EV technology and fulfilling diverse needs of buyers. PV5 also aims to provide flexibility and customization via modularity. PV5 will be offered in several configurations along with specialised conversion options.
    Where design is concerned, PV5 has a unique design which stands out against other light commercial vehicles as it features a fresh aesthetic. Kia PV5 Passenger has a lot of glass area, improving visibility and letting in a lot of natural light. This is accentuated by a low belt line. Surrounding this glass area is Gloss Black graphics that lend a contrasty look.
    Kia PV5 Passenger
    Passenger & Cargo Variants
    Lower part of PV5’s body looks very rugged as it has chunky claddings and geometrical shape for wheel arches. PV5 has striking lighting with swanky LED signatures at the front and rear. PV5 Passenger has a single lift-up type tailgate and sliding rear doors. The main rival for Kia PV5 is VW ID. Buzz along with a few more.
    In contrast, PV5 Cargo is slightly boxier in silhouette, sans the massive glass area and has twin door tailgate. Making loading and unloading in tight spaces easy on PV5 Cargo. Interiors of both the PV5 Passenger and PV5 Cargo are not revealed yet. Which is likely to happen at Kia EV Day on 27th February in Tarragona, Spain.
    Kia PV5 Cargo
    Statement by Kia Corporation
    “While the PV5 is offered in three different body styles to provide innovative solutions for a diverse range of customer needs, they all embody the same consistent design values inspired by Kia’s design philosophy, ‘Opposites United,’” said Karim Habib, Head of Kia Global Design. “Each model confidently expresses a solid, bold, futuristic character and a highly capable attitude.”
    Also read – Kia Carens Facelift Spied More

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    Tata Electric Car Sales Cross 2 Lakh Milestone – New Offers, Benefits Up To Rs 1.86 L

    New Tata Curvv EV – Voyager Aamir– 45-day celebration offers exchange bonuses, 100% on-road finance, and free charging benefits– Tata Power to provide six months of free charging for Nexon.ev and Curvv.ev buyers
    Tata.ev, India’s leading electric vehicle manufacturer, has reached a significant milestone with 2 lakh EVs on Indian roads. To mark this achievement, the company has announced a 45-day celebration, offering exclusive benefits to both new and existing customers.
    Tata.ev’s Contribution to India’s EV Growth
    Since pioneering the mass EV segment with the Nexon.ev in 2020, Tata.ev has solidified its position as India’s best-selling four-wheeler EV brand. Collectively, Tata EV owners have traveled over 5 billion kilometers, reducing 7 lakh tons of CO2 emissions. With over 8,000 Tata EVs crossing 1 lakh kilometers, the brand continues to prove its reliability and long-term value.
    Tata EVs 2 Lakh Sales Milestone – Up To Rs 1.86 Lakh Benefits Announced
    In addition to product growth, Tata.ev is heavily investing in charging infrastructure, with plans to install over 400,000 charging points across India by 2027, further accelerating EV adoption.
    Exclusive Benefits for New and Existing Customers
    As part of this limited-time celebration, Tata.ev has introduced special offers to make EV ownership easier and more rewarding:
    For New Customers:
    – Exchange Bonus: Up to Rs 50,000 on any passenger vehicle– 100% On-Road Finance: Zero down payment options available– Free Public Charging: Six months of free charging at Tata Power stations (applicable for Nexon.ev and Curvv.ev, MY2024)– Free Home Charger Installation: 7.2 kW AC Fast Charger included with the EV purchase
    For Existing Tata Customers:
    – Loyalty Bonus for Current Tata.ev Owners: Rs 50,000 discount on Nexon.ev and Curvv.ev– Loyalty Bonus for Tata Motors Passenger Vehicle Owners: Rs 20,000 discount on Nexon.ev and Curvv.ev
    Tata.ev’s Vision for a Greener Future
    Celebrating this momentous occasion, Mr. Vivek Srivatsa, Chief Commercial Officer, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd., said, “Our foray into electric mobility began with a bold and visionary commitment to advancing India towards a future of meaningful mobility – one that is smart, safe, and fundamentally green. Since we unveiled the Nexon.ev in 2020, we have championed EV adoption to greater heights with over 2 lakh Tata EVs on Indian roads cementing our position as India’s largest EV 4-wheeler manufacturer.
    We share this success with our partners across the ecosystem – dealers, suppliers, charge point operators, and crucially, our customers, who believe in our vision to democratize cutting-edge technology. By introducing these exclusive benefits, we welcome more customers to join us in this revolution and reaffirm our commitment to grow acceptance of EVs as a technology for a cleaner, greener tomorrow.” More

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    2025 Tata Nexon EV 40 kWh Variants Discontinued – Details

    Tata Nexon EV : Image – Jayaraj
    With the shifting trends in Indian electric car segment, Tata Motors has been surpassed in sales by JSW MG Motor with the raging popularity of Windsor EV. Tata is making major revisions to the Nexon EV Long Range (LR) variants in 2025 as per a new strategy, as it aims to boost sales and re-establish dominance in India’s electric car segment.
    2025 Tata Nexon EV 40 kWh Variants
    Post the launch of Curvv EV, Tata Motors made major revisions to Nexon EV in powertrains department. For the first time, we saw the launch of 45 kWh Nexon EV LR variants, which is the same unit seen in lower variants of Curvv EV. Before this update, Nexon EV used to get a 40.5 kWh battery pack with its LR versions.
    Updated Tata Nexon EV Launched – Red Dark Edition
    In February 2025, Tata discontinued the LR versions of Nexon EV equipped with this 40.5 kWh battery pack. The company has not cited a reason behind this move. Tata is yet to reveal whether this is a permanent move or a temporary one as the company’s official website de-lists Nexon EV LR 40.5 kWh variants.
    With this move, Nexon EV is now offered with just two battery pack options – a 30 kWh unit or a 45 kWh battery pack option. The 40.5 kWh battery pack acted as a decent middle ground between 30 kWh and 45 kWh, which is not on sale anymore. Range promised by the company is 275 km with 30 kWh battery pack and 489 km with 45 kWh battery pack.
    Nexon EV Red Hot Dark Edition Panoramic Sunroof
    What else is new?
    With this revision, Tata Nexon is now offered in a total of 10 variants (5 MR and 5 LR) across 8 trim levels namely – Creative, Creative+, Fearless, Fearless+, Fearless+ S, Empowered, Empowered+ and Red Dark. Notably, Tata is offering LR variant equipped with 45 kWh battery pack right from the base Creative trim.
    Price for 2025 Tata Nexon EV MR variants starts from Rs 12.49 lakh (Ex-sh) for Creative+ and goes till Rs 14.79 lakh (Ex-sh) for Empowered trim. 2025 Tata Nexon EV LR variants start from Rs 13.99 lakh (Ex-sh) for Creative and goes till Rs 17.19 lakh (Ex-sh) for Red Dark trim. Other then these updates, there doesn’t seem to be anything new with Nexon EV. More

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    MG Windsor EV Records 15k Production Milestone – 200 New Bookings Everyday

    MG WindsorIndia’s electric car segment has witnessed a new champion in the form of MG Windsor EV. This is India’s first CUV which has appealed to the country’s electric car buyers. It has quickly climbed the ladder of success and has emerged as India’s best-selling electric car and has also surpassed 15k units production milestone.
    MG Winsor EV Production Milestone
    Ever since it was launched, MG Windsor EV has been a popular choice in India’s electric car segment. The customer reception has been excellent, making it the country’s best-selling electric car for the fourth consecutive month (October 2024 to January 2025), contributing to the overall growth of India’s electric car segment.
    Since it was launched late last year, MG Windsor has achieved 15,000 units production milestone. Windsor EV’s order books are ringing with 200 bookings per day, across India. If not for the production slowdown in February 2025 due to facility modifications in Halol plant, this milestone would be achieved much earlier.
    Windsor EV packs a bunch of features and innovations, backed by premium interiors and best-in-segment roominess and comfort. Windsor EV also has well–sorted underpinnings giving it good range, performance and other paraphernalia. What stood out with MG Windsor EV is a revolutionary pricing system.
    MG Windsor EV
    MG is not only offering competitive pricing with the purchase, but the company is also offering segment-first battery rental BaaS (Battery as a Service) offers, significantly reducing the high up-front costs associated with an electric car. For buyers who don’t have high mileage needs, are gravitating towards Windsor EV.
    Windsor EV gets a 38-kWh battery powering an electric motor rated at 134 hp and 200 Nm, driving the front wheels. There are four drive modes – Eco+, Eco, Normal, and Sport. MG promises a range of 331 km on a single charge. DC fast charger ensures 80% SOC in 40 minutes.
    Statement from JSW MG Motor India
    Speaking on the occasion, Biju Balendran, Deputy Managing Director, JSW MG Motor India said, “We are delighted with the response that the MG Windsor has been receiving and are grateful to our customers who have helped us cross the 15,000-unit production milestone. The CUV has been widely accepted by car buyers for its overall pricing and packaging, and for offering a luxurious business-class experience to customers.
    Windsor has become No 1 selling electric car in Oct 2024
    Smart initiatives such as BaaS, the buyback program, and a lifetime warranty, have all boosted consumer confidence in EVs. As we diversify our portfolio, we remain committed to bringing quality products to our customers at a faster rate. Consequently, we are increasing the capacity of the facility at Halol to meet the rising demand for Windsor.
    Additionally, we are undertaking certain facility modifications to ensure readiness for new products under MG Select which is due for launch in the first half of this year. Hence, we anticipate a production slowdown during the month of February, which may temporarily affect our wholesales during this period”, he added further. More

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    Electric Car Sales Jan 2025 – Tata, MG, Mahindra, Hyundai, BYD, Mercedes

    New Tata Curvv EV – Voyager AamirTata Motors maintained its lead position in this segment with further plans to expand its already extensive EV lineup with new electric variants of Harrier, Safari and Sierra
    Following our earlier report on petrol and diesel car retail sales in Jan 2025 we now assess the performance of its electric counterparts. Though these sales figures are nowhere near that of their ICE counterparts, the EV segment is showing some promise with new launches and reduced costs. Automakers are also keen to further expand their portfolios in this arena. Let us see how electric car sales performed in Jan 2025 both in terms of year-on-year (YoY) and month-on-month (MoM).
    Tata Motors Leads in Electric Car Sales in Jan 2025
    Electric car retail sales, as reported by Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA), showed off a strong YoY and MoM growth. Sales stood at a total of 11,266 units, up by 32.28% from 8,517 units sold in Jan 2024. It was also a growth of 27.70% when compared to 8,822 unit sales of Dec 2024.
    Tata Motors, with the most extensive lineup of electric vehicles, headed this list with 5,047 unit sales last month. Though this related to a YoY de-growth of 13.01% over 5,802 units sold in Jan 2024, the company witnessed a 24.71% MoM improvement from 4,047 units sold in Dec 2024. Tata Motors now has plans to expand their electric vehicle portfolio to include the Harrier, Safari, and Sierra SUVs. Each of these models was showcased at the 2025 Auto Expo and will be launched during the year.
    Overwhelming growth was reported by MG Motor with a 252.20% YoY improvement in sales to 4,237 units in Jan 2025. This was well over 1,203 units sold in Jan 2024. Its MoM performance also showed increased sales from 3,643 units sold in Dec 2024. Its existing lineup includes the Comet and ZS EV along with the relatively new Windsor EV. It will soon launch the Cyberster and M9.
    Electric Car Sales Jan 2025
    At No. 3 on this list was Mahindra with 688 unit sales in Jan 2025. Sales declined by 12.24% on a YoY basis from 784 unit sales of Jan 2024 while sales numbers grew by 78.70% when compared to 385 unit sales of Dec 2024. Mahindra’s EV portfolio currently includes the XUV400 along with the new BE6 and XEV 9e born-electric models.
    Hyundai has witnessed outstanding demand for its electric cars with retail sales at 321 units in Jan 2025. This was an 88.82% YoY growth from 170 units sold in Jan 2024. MoM sales on the other hand went up by an astounding 1589.47% from just 19 unit sales of Dec 2024. Hyundai has just launched the new Creta electric which is set to make a powerful impact in the EV segment.
    Sales of BYD India grew both on a YoY and MoM basis to 313 units in Jan 2025. There were 162 units and 284 units sold in Jan 2024 and Dec 2024 respectively. Triple-digit growth was reported by Citroen as sales went up to 269 units. This related to a 767.74% YoY growth from 31 units sold in Jan 2024 while MoM sales were up by 249.35% from 77 unit sales of Dec 2024.
    BMW India Top Luxury Electric Carmaker in Jan 2025
    BMW India was atop with retail sales of 181 units. The company witnessed an 18.30 YoY improvement from 153 unit sales in Jan 2024 and a 28.37% MoM growth from 141 units sold in Dec 2024. It was followed by Mercedes-Benz India at 95 units. This related to a 53.23% YoY growth from 62 units sold in Jan 2024. MoM sales declined by 1.04% when compared to 96 unit sales of Dec 2024.
    Lower down the sales list was Kia with 47 unit sales experiencing a 23.68% YoY growth though sales were 38.96% lower on a MoM basis from 77 unit sales of Dec 2024. Strong MoM sales growth was reported by Volvo India with 27 unit sales in the past month, a 58.82% increase over 17 units sold in Dec 2024.
    Audi sales at 18 units in Jan 2025 grew significantly by 20% YoY and 125% MoM. There were others on this list that added 23 units to total sales relating to severe decline as against 42 units sold in Jan 2024 and 28 units sold in Dec 2024. More

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    Tesla Begins Hiring in India – Job Listings Go Live on Official Website

    Tesla Model 3 Pre-Facelift : Image For Reference OnlyAfter a prolonged on-off see-saw play, Elon Musk led Tesla Inc. seems to have set a firmer foot in India. The EV giant just commenced hiring for various job roles in India and seems to be a hint at the start of India operations. An official announcement from Tesla regarding India operations is not public yet.
    Tesla Begins Hiring in India
    American EV giant, Tesla Inc. has initiated the hiring process in India for as many as 13 roles. These developments came to light when Tesla posted openings for 13 positions on their LinkedIn page. These job roles posted by Tesla hint at a possible entry into India, which has emerged as a major automotive market in recent times.
    Tesla Model 3 refreshed
    There is less clarity as to what led Tesla towards this step, considering the company’s on-off interests towards Indian market. However, these developments fall in close proximity with the recent meeting of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Tesla CEO Elon Musk during his USA visit.
    Tesla had expressed reservations on multiple occasions owing to rather high import duties set forth by Indian Government. Elon Musk himself has expressed his opinions on India’s high import duties, which doesn’t make it viable for a profitable business. Suggesting a reduction in import duties before making a significant commitment to Indian market.
    Tesla Model 3 Refresh
    However, Indian Government has revised its policies, reducing the import duties of cars priced above USD 40,000 (Rs 34.77 lakh) from 110% to 70%. This revision applies to EV makers that have pledged a local manufacturing presence with an investment of USD 500 million (Rs 4,150 Cr). Thus encouraging Tesla to set up a manufacturing presence in India.
    What are the job openings?
    These job openings that Tesla has put out for India include positions like Inside Sales Advisor, Customer Support Supervisor, Customer Support Specialist, Service Advisor, Order Operations Specialist, Service Manager, Tesla Advisor, Parts Advisor, Business Operations Analyst, Store manager and Service technician.
    Tesla India Job Openings
    The location for these positions can be seen as Mumbai in Maharashtra. More details about Tesla’s India operations are expected to be revealed soon. Tesla Model S and Model X are likely to be the imports, while Model 3 and Model Y are good candidates for local production. More

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    2025 Toyota Innova Electric Debuts – 59.3 kWh Battery, 134 kW/ 700 Nm

    2025 Toyota Innova Electric DebutsAs part of its goal to achieve carbon neutrality, Toyota is developing multiple new models, including the Innova BEV
    At the IIMS 2025 (Indonesia International Motor Show), Toyota has showcased the Kijang Innova BEV Concept. There are some updates in comparison to the concept model showcased in Indonesia in March 2022. Let’s take a closer look at the details of Toyota’s fully-electric 7-seater MPV.
    Innova BEV Concept – Styling and features
    Toyota Innova BEV Concept shares the same outline and panelling as the diesel Kijang Innova offered in Indonesia. However, some distinctive features are noticeable such as sportier headlamps and DRLs, top mounted LED strip, a closed-off grille and a revised bumper section.
    2025 Toyota Innova Electric Debuts
    Innova BEV has a dominating street presence with its body cladding and blacked-out pillars and roof. Side profile is further enhanced with the addition of multi-colour graphics. The MPV has sporty 16-inch alloy wheels, the same as currently available with the diesel Innova in Indonesia.
    The rims are wrapped in 215/65 tyres. Other key highlights include conventional door handles in chrome finish and dual-tone ORVMs with integrated turn signals. At the rear, Innova BEV gets quirky wraparound tail lamps with an interconnecting LED strip. ‘BEV’ badging can be seen at the rear and on the sides as well.
    2025 Toyota Kijang Innova BEV Concept
    Moving in, one can see a spacious cabin, designed for optimal comfort and practicality. It’s a blend of advanced features and equipment that is easy to use. For example, Innova BEV utilizes physical buttons in most places. While the MPV has a large touchscreen infotainment system, the instrument cluster has analogue dials with a MID.
    The steering wheel is leather wrapped and has mounted switches. Other key highlights include ambient lighting, wireless phone charger, dual-tone interior theme and captain seats in the middle row. For 2nd-row passengers, dedicated rear-seat entertainment screens have been provided. A number of utility spaces are also available for second-row passengers.
    2025 Toyota Kijang Innova BEV Concept
    Specs & Performance
    7-seater Toyota Innova BEV Concept is equipped with a 59.3 kWh Lithium-ion battery pack. While most modern EVs use a flat, floor bed-mounted battery pack, the one used with Innova BEV is quite distinct. There are multiple smaller modules mounted on the floorboard, along with a much larger unit installed at the front, in the engine bay.
    The charger and inverter are installed at the rear side of the vehicle. Innova BEV supports Type-2 AC and CCS-2 DC chargers. Details such as range, charging time, etc. are not available at this point in time. It is not certain when Innova BEV will reach the assembly line. Where it will be introduced first and its launch possibilities in India are not known.
    2025 Toyota Kijang Innova BEV Concept
    Toyota will continue to focus on ICE and hybrids and is also working on other greener fuel options such as biofuels and hydrogen. In India, the Innova is currently available in petrol and strong hybrid formats (Hycross) along with a Diesel (Crysta). It is the top-selling Toyota model, with close to 24% contribution to overall sales.

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