Published on March 11th, 2009 | by Andrew Williams

Will Tata Indica EV be Europe’s First Serious Electric Car?

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Ambitious Indian car company Tata has revealed that it may launch its Indica Vista EV all-electric car in Europe by the end of the year, making it the first ‘mainstream’ company to bid for a slice of the continent’s potentially lucrative zero-emission vehicles market.

The move is likely to ruffle a few feathers amongst GM executives, who had grand plans that the Opel Ampera (the Chevy Volt’s European cousin) would become the first major player in the region, following its launch in 2011.

Tata executives at last week’s Geneva Motor Show indicated that the car will be launched in Norway in September and be available to buy in major European markets, including the UK, before the end of the year.

According to Tata, who have also recently released the long awaited Tata Nano, the Indica will be capable of travelling 200km (125miles) on a full charge and accelerate from 0-60kph (0-38mph) in less than ten seconds, with a respectable top speed of 130kph (80mph).

Tata has made no secret of its ambitions to become a major player in the global car industry but, although a household name in India, might suffer from a case of ‘who they?’ in the European market. However, in the current economic climate, with the global car manufacturing pecking-order being turned on its head, a combination of clever branding and marketing could just mean that a company with the financial muscle of Tata could steal a chase on outfits like Nissan and GM/Opel and secure a healthy portion of the potentially lucrative European EV market.

Image Credits – reghardware

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Tags: 2009, electric car, electric cars, electric vehicle, electric vehicles, Europe, European, EV, EVs, Geneva, Indica, Indica Vista EV, Norway, Tata, Tata Nano, UK

About the Author

Andrew Williams is a writer and freelance journalist specialising in sustainability and green issues. He lives in Cardiff, Wales.

wv needs your “pen”

Andrew,

Please report more on the recent developments in the Coal River Valley.

The WHOLE WORLD needs to know what is happening to the people there.

Look up Charleston Gazette “coal tatoo blog” for recent info.

Contact the people who are in the “sacrifice zone” of America’s energy war.

We can’t turn our lights on like this and then turn away from the suffering we are forcing upon others. Please look into it. Thank you for your writing.
wv needs your “pen”

Andrew,

Please report more on the recent developments in the Coal River Valley.

The WHOLE WORLD needs to know what is happening to the people there.

Look up Charleston Gazette “coal tatoo blog” for recent info.

Contact the people who are in the “sacrifice zone” of America’s energy war.

We can’t turn our lights on like this and then turn away from the suffering we are forcing upon others. Please look into it. Thank you for your writing.
Doug

Okay Tata wants to be a player, but how good are the cars they make? Are they like Yugos or are they pieces of crap like the original Hyundai’s and Kias?
Doug

Okay Tata wants to be a player, but how good are the cars they make? Are they like Yugos or are they pieces of crap like the original Hyundai’s and Kias?
http://www.zojila.com Sam George

In response to the previous poster, I would like to say that when Toyota and Honda first brought their vehicles to the US, they were considered cheap copies and unreliable. The same happened to Hyundai and Kia. They were considered crap since they were made outside of the western hemisphere. Look where they are now. The same is going to be true for the Indian makes like Tata and Mahindra, even though they are bringing out innovative products that didn’t exist before like the ultra cheap Nano and the first diesel hybrid from Mahindra. On the other hand the big three have always made crap and continue to make crap and continue to make claims like in the case of the Chevy Volt. Meanwhile Tata will introduce the first production electric car in a month from now……….
http://www.zojila.com Sam George

In response to the previous poster, I would like to say that when Toyota and Honda first brought their vehicles to the US, they were considered cheap copies and unreliable. The same happened to Hyundai and Kia. They were considered crap since they were made outside of the western hemisphere. Look where they are now. The same is going to be true for the Indian makes like Tata and Mahindra, even though they are bringing out innovative products that didn’t exist before like the ultra cheap Nano and the first diesel hybrid from Mahindra. On the other hand the big three have always made crap and continue to make crap and continue to make claims like in the case of the Chevy Volt. Meanwhile Tata will introduce the first production electric car in a month from now……….
ramtec

How long we will wait?
ramtec

How long we will wait?
pmike

Tata are known for their quality cars, they sell millions of cars in india, so they are well tested.
pmike

Tata are known for their quality cars, they sell millions of cars in india, so they are well tested.
http://Web sukusree

i am waiting for its entance in kerala with pleasure
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