Auto recap, May 19: Hyundai Creta may get hybrid, Tata Harrier EV launch date confirmed, India-UK FTA impact on Defender
Here is your quick check on the biggest developments in the world of automobiles.
Here is your quick check on the biggest developments in the world of automobiles. Check Offers
The automotive industry is progressing rapidly, posing difficulties in staying informed about all the latest updates. At HT Auto, we are dedicated to delivering the most relevant and timely information as it becomes available. Below is a concise overview of the key highlights from Monday, May 19.
Hyundai Creta may go hybrid soon as the carmaker ramps up hybrid and EV plans for India
Hyundai Creta, one of the most popular compact SUVs in the Indian market, is expected to get a hybrid powertrain. The Hyundai Creta is currently being sold in India as a petrol, turbo petrol, diesel, and electric powertrain option. Hyundai Motor India recently confirmed that it is working on hybrid powertrains for its vehicles, and the brand plans to launch 26 products that include 20 internal combustion-powered engine cars (including refreshes) and six electric vehicles. The new vehicles will be launched by FY2030. Earlier in the month, Kia, which is the sister brand to Hyundai, confirmed during its Investor's Day 2025 that the next-gen Kia Seltos will get a hybrid powertrain. The Creta and the Seltos have always shared their underpinnings along with the mechanical bits. If the next-gen Kia Seltos is confirmed to get the hybrid powertrain, it is likely that the Creta too will feature the same hybrid powertrain.
Also Read : Hyundai Creta may go hybrid soon as the carmaker ramps up hybrid and EV plans for India Tata Harrier EV to be the brand's flagship electric car, India launch on…
The Tata Harrier EV is all set to be officially launched in India on June 3. Upon arrival, this will be the flagship electric car from Tata Motors, replacing the current flagship EV of the OEM, the Tata Curvv EV. Tata Motors has already showcased the Harrier EV in multiple iterations, the latest being the production-ready model at the Bharat Mobility Expo 2025 earlier this year. Tata Motors has not revealed anything about the hardware part of the upcoming electric SUV, but hinted the Harrier EV will arrive, promising a range of about 500 kilometres on a single charge. Also, most importantly, this will be the first new generation vehicle from Tata Motors to get a 4WD drivetrain, owing to a dual motor setup, with each powering one axle.
Also Read : Tata Harrier EV to be the brand's flagship electric car, India launch on… Defender prices to drop by 50%? How India-UK FTA will affect prices
The recently concluded India-UK Free-Trade Agreement (FTA) will have a major impact on the economies of both nations, but prices for the Range Rover and Defender models won't see a major drop as the Internet will have you believe. The India-UK FTA is expected to bring the taxation down from over 100 per cent to just 10 per cent. However, JLR's global best seller is already made in India, and that means there is likely going to be little change in prices. JLR commenced local assembly of the Range Rover LWB and Range Rover Sport last year, while it has been assembling the Discovery, Discovery Sport, Range Rover Evoque and Velar in India for a while now. With the models already being assembled here, there will be no change in prices for the range.
Also Read : Defender prices to drop by 50%? How India-UK FTA will affect prices Hyundai i20 lineup gets updated with new variant and updated features
The Hyundai i20 lineup has been updated with the addition of a new variant in the lineup - Magna Executive. The new variant has been priced at ₹ 7.51 lakh, ex-showroom. In addition to this, the iVT transmission and Smart Electric Sunroof are now being offered in the Magna variant. Meanwhile, the Sportz (O) variant of the premium hatchback now comes equipped with several premium features, including Smart Key with push button start, Smart Electric Sunroof, Bose Premium 7 speaker system, among others. The Magna Executive MT is priced at ₹ 7,50,900, while the Magna MT costs ₹ 7,78,800. The Magna iVT is available at ₹ 8,88,800. Moving up the range, the Sportz (O) MT is priced at ₹ 9,05,000, and its Dual Tone version comes in at ₹ 9,20,000. The top-end Sportz (O) iVT variant is priced at ₹ 9,99,990. All the prices are ex-showroom. Tarun Garg, WholeTime Director and Chief Operating Officer, Hyundai Motor India Limited, stated that Hyundai i20 has always set new benchmarks in the premium hatchback segment with its design, innovation, and feature-rich offering.
Also Read : Hyundai i20 lineup gets updated with new variant and updates features. Check details Honda Rebel 500 launched in India with a price tag of ₹ 5.12 lakh
Honda Rebel 500, the premium cruiser motorcycle from the Japanese two-wheeler maker, has been launched in India with a starting price of ₹ 5.12 lakh, ex-showroom. To be retailed through the company's BigWing Topline dealerships, the bike will be available exclusively in Gurugram, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, with deliveries commencing from June 2025 onwards.
Also Read : Honda Rebel 500 launched in India with a price tag of ₹ 5.12 lakh. Check details
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First Published Date: 20 May 2025, 06:33 AM IST
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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
With Harrier EV, Tata Motors pushes to reclaim EV ground
Mumbai/ New Delhi: Despite the low penetration of electric vehicles in India's passenger vehicle segment at present, the category is poised for growth this year. Capitalising on this opportunity, Tata Motors on Tuesday launched its third EV, the Harrier SUV, built on its dedicated pure EV architecture-- Tata Motors initially introduced the Nexon, Tiago, and Tigor EVs on its first-generation (Gen-1) architecture, which was adapted from internal combustion engine (ICE) platforms. However, the company has since shifted to a Gen-2 or pure EV architecture, which claims to offer greater flexibility in drive configurations, battery formats, and chemistries. The Punch EV was the first model launched on this dedicated EV platform, followed by the Curvv. The EV market today is focused on delivering greater value for money rather than simply achieving price parity with ICE vehicles, Shailesh Chandra, Managing Director of Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, stated. Launched at an introductory price of ₹21.49 lakh (ex-showroom), the Harrier EV features a Quad-Wheel Drive (QWD) dual-motor setup enabling all-wheel drive and delivering a peak torque of 504 Nm. The front motor produces 158 PS, while the rear generates 238 PS, allowing the SUV to accelerate from 0–100 km/h in 6.3 seconds. The motor is supplied by Tier- 1 majors Schaeffler and Tata AutoComp. The vehicle comes equipped with six terrain modes and off-road assist, and introduces Tata Motors' advanced SDV architecture, which runs on 500 million lines of code. It supports fast charging, offering 250 km of range in just 15 minutes. Safety is prioritised with over 20 Level 2 ADAS features, including Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assist, and Autonomous Emergency Braking, alongside seven airbags, all-wheel disc brakes, ESP with i-VBAC, hill descent control, and tyre pressure monitoring. In conversation with ETAuto, Anand Kulkarni, Chief Products Officer, Head of HV Programs and Customer Service at Tata Passenger Electric Mobility said the Harrier EV is based on evolving consumer trends like YOLO (You Only Live Once) and FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), reflecting a desire to try new experiences. The vehicle is positioned as a 'third space' beyond home and work, where users can recharge and reconnect. With the launch of this model, Tata Motors is seeking to regain its lost market share, as it faces stiff competition in the EV space from its rivals, particularly JSW MG Motor and Mahindra & Mahindra. Although it still remains a market leader in the segment, the auto giant has seen its share decline from around 71 per cent in FY24 to 54 per cent in FY25. EV penetration in the segment currently stands at around 2.5 per cent. Innovations in battery techTata Motors remains cautious about exploring alternative battery chemistries like sodium-ion technology. Kulkarni noted that while sodium-ion batteries are promising due to safer, more abundant materials, initial interest was driven by high lithium costs. With lithium prices stabilising, the urgency around sodium-ion has lessened. From a global standpoint, he sees fully sodium-ion-powered vehicles unlikely to hit the market for at least a few more years. Cost remains a critical factor, and shifting economics often reshape the direction of such conversations. Nevertheless, he emphasised the importance of continued investment in technical innovation, particularly as energy density which is one of sodium-ion's main limitations, continues to improve with ongoing R&D efforts. Addressing the concept of Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS), Kulkarni noted that while it remains a viable option if there is sufficient demand, the prevailing sentiment among Indian consumers leans toward battery ownership. 'Indian customers typically prefer to own the battery,' he said. Although a lower upfront price through BaaS might appeal to a niche segment, he emphasised that it is not the dominant expectation in the market. 'Price difference may attract some customers, but overall, ownership remains the preferred model.' EV trajectoryKulkarni noted that there has been a clear reduction in range anxiety and increasing acceptance of EVs among the customers in India. He highlighted that Tata Motors EVs have collectively covered 8 billion kilometers across over 200,000 vehicles. While daily drives once averaged 40–45 km in short trips, usage has evolved to 75–80 km per trip, with EVs now used more frequently than comparable ICE vehicles. Reflecting on the evolving competitiveness of the Indian EV industry, he noted that the landscape has changed significantly over the past five years. 'Back then, my answer would have been very different. But today, as a country, we've developed real expertise.' A key enabler has been the push for deep localisation, which has helped build critical competencies and a robust supply ecosystem. He also highlighted a defining characteristic of the Indian market– its high sensitivity to cost. 'This has driven local engineers to innovate and engineer world-class products that meet demanding cost targets, even at low volumes,' he said. As a result, India is now capable of producing highly credible, competitive EV solutions tailored to its unique needs. 'While the future remains uncertain, I am confident that we will not be left behind,' he said.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Tata Motors to give EV portfolio a premium edge with Harrier.ev, Sierra.ev
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New Indian Express
5 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Tata Motors races to regain EV dominance with Harrier.ev launch as rivals gain ground
Tata Motors on Tuesday launched the much-awaited in an effort to strengthen its position in India's electric vehicle (EV) market. The move comes as rival carmakers such as JSW MG Motor and Mahindra & Mahindra ramp up their EV offerings, chipping away at Tata's once-dominant market share. Just a year ago, Tata Motors commanded 73% of India's electric passenger vehicle market. However, a surge in rival launches and their quick adoption by EV buyers has eroded Tata's lead, making the a crucial addition to its lineup. Tata Motors' electric car sales fell 15% in May 2025 as it delivered 4,316 units compared to 5,083 in the same month last year. This decline reduced its share in the small but fast-growing EV market to 35%. In contrast, JSW MG Motor India's share in this segment rose to 30% share as its sales, thanks to the high demand for its Windsor model, grew by 159% year-on-year to 3,737 units. Mahindra & Mahindra, which commenced deliveries of the BE 6 and XEV 9E in March this year, sold 2,605 EVs in May 2025, boosting its market share to 21%. The company has delivered 10,000 units of these models since deliveries began on March 20. Tata Motors Passenger Vehicle and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Managing Director Shailesh Chandra recently said that they have aspirations to have more than 50% market share in the EV market in the mid-to-long term. 'We would aspire to be at a 50 per cent market share by having a very wide product portfolio and products which are aligned to the expectation of the customers,' he stated.
