India’s automotive industry is experiencing a radical change as the country’s top automakers prepare to introduce an EV fleet in the coming year.
Among them, Maruti Suzuki is making its debut in the electric vehicle market with the eVX, an SUV that highlights the company’s dedication to green mobility. New EV models from Hyundai, Kia, and Tata Motors are also made production-ready to debut in 2019.
Let us take a look at the most eagerly awaited EVs that will be on sale in India in 2024.
#1. Maruti Suzuki eVX
Indian automobile enthusiasts were eagerly waiting to see an EV from Maruti Suzuki on Indian roads. The midlevel EV market is currently dominated by Tata with its commendable EV lineup and Maruti Suzuki has yet to enter the competition.
The company’s first EV for India, the eVX concept was unveiled to the public at Auto Expo 2023. It was supposed to come by 2025, however, there are currently some indications that it may happen as early as April 2024.
Though we don’t exactly know what to expect from the model, it is highly possible to have a 60 KWh battery and a range of 550 KM. The overall length is 4.3 metres and the wheelbase is 2.7 metres. A dual-screen configuration, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), a 360-degree camera, and other technologies are anticipated.
The Maruti Suzuki eVX is a result of the company’s global partnership with Toyota and the expected price range is around 22 lakhs. The rivals for the model would be Tata Nexon, Mahindra XUV 400 EV and MG ZS EV.
#2. Tata Curvv EV
Right now the Indian EV market is dominated by Tata Motors and another addition to their lineup is the Curvv EV. The model was first unveiled as a concept in 2022. It comes with a unique and sporty appearance that includes a rear spoiler, flush door handles, a sloping roofline resembling a coupe, and a horizontal light bar.
In the interior, the model is fitted with a two-spoke steering wheel with multiple functions, a panoramic sunroof, and two large freestanding screens–one for the instrument console and the other for the touchscreen infotainment system. A dual-tone black and blue theme, touch controls for the AC vents, a rotary dial for the gearbox with drive modes and a front armrest.
Though the performance aspects of the model are not made public, we expect the EV to have a range of 400-500 KM and a price range of around 20 lakhs.
#3. BYD Seal
A few months back, the Chinese EV giant BYD introduced the Seal EV India. With an 82.5 kWh battery, the BYD Seal has an amazing range of up to 700 miles on a single charge. With a 0-100 kmph acceleration time of about 3.8 seconds, it is among the quickest cars in the world.
Moving on to the other specifications of the car, the BYD seal has a power train of a long-range 82.5 kWh battery pack coupled with two motors to produce 530 PS and 670 Nm of power.
The BYD Seal has a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display and a spinning 15.6-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also has a panoramic glass roof. In the safety department, the BYD Seal has a full suite of ADAS technology, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, and blind spot monitoring, in addition to airbags for passenger safety.
It is expected that the car will be launched in India by February 2024 and will be priced around 60 lakhs.
#4. Mahindra XUV e8
The Mahindra XUV e8, an electric variant of the XUV700, is expected to be on sale in the middle of 2024. The e8 is a dual-motor vehicle with an 80 kWh battery that is built on the INGLO EV platform. The company aims to make an impression on the electric SUV market and is anticipated to launch with high-end amenities.
The XUV e8 will come with two battery pack options one with a capacity of 60 kWh and another with a capacity of 80 kWh with a 450 km claimed range. Both rear-wheel drive (RWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) setups will be supported by the INGLO EV platform. Up to 285 PS can be produced by the 60 kWh model, and up to 394 PS by the 80 kWh model. Additionally, up to 175 kW of rapid charging will be supported.
Being a luxury SUV, the XUV e8 may come fitted with a panoramic sunroof, multi-zone temperature control, linked car technology, integrated screens, cruise control etc. When it comes to safety, the e8 will have up to 6 airbags, Electronic stability control (ESC), ABS with EBD, and an array of ADAS capabilities.
The Mahindra XUV e8 is expected to have a price tag of 35 lakhs and will compete with the BYD Atto 3 and act as a high-end substitute for the Hyundai Kona Electric and MG ZS EV AMD.
#5. Kia EV9
After showcasing the EV9 concept at the Auto Expo 2023, Kia intends to launch the vehicle in India by the end of 2024 or at the beginning of 2025. The all-electric SUV will be Kia’s second EV made available in India after the EV6.
Kia EV9 is the brand’s most expensive and biggest electric SUV available worldwide. The EV9 is a distinctly two-box SUV that is clearly defined. It receives daring style cues that other Kia cars are gradually starting to adopt.
The Model has a three-row cabin with various seating arrangements based on the variants. According to Kia, the EV9 electric SUV is their response to electric SUVs from Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi that are comparable in price and size.
Globally, EV9 gets 3 power trains. The EV9 RWD has a 76.1KWh battery while the EV9 RWD long-range variant has a 99.8kWh battery. The third option is the EV9 AWD. With an 800V charging technology, the EV9 Long Range is expected to have a range of more than 540 kilometres between charges and the range for EV9 AWD is not yet revealed.
Once launched in the country, the EV9 will be the most expensive Kia costing around 80 lakhs to 1 crore and it rivals the BMW iX globally and we expect that it will be the same in India as well.
#6. Hyundai Creta EV
One of the first automakers to introduce EVs to India was Hyundai, yet the Korean manufacturer has only offered its Kona and Ioniq 5 EVs in luxury sectors thus far. With the Creta EV, Hyundai will at last join the EV mass market in India by the end of 2024. The Creta EV will be based on the Creta Facelift which is expected to debut in India by April 2024.
According to sources, the 45kWh battery pack for the Creta EV will come from LG Chem, Hyundai’s international supplier of lithium-ion battery packs. With a few tweaks, the platform on the standard ICE-powered Creta will be used for Creta EV as well.
However, compared to the MG ZS EV and Maruti’s eVX, the Creta EV would have a smaller battery. MG ZS EV has a 50.3kWh battery and the expected evX may have two variants one with a 48kWh and another with 60 KWh. But It will be bigger than the long-range Nexon EV’s 40.5kWh battery.
The Creta EV is anticipated to have its world premiere by the second half of 2024 and the price for the Indian version will be revealed in January 2025.
#7. Tata Harrier EV
The Harrier EV, which was first shown as a concept at the Auto Expo 2023, will be made available in the Indian market by 2024.
Although the Harrier EV’s specifications are unknown, it is known that it will be built on the company’s Gen 2 EV architecture, an upgraded version of the OMEGA-Arc platform, which was first developed for Land Rover. Furthermore, a dual-motor setup which effectively means an all-wheel drive system is anticipated for the all-electric Harrier. The ARAI-rated range of the Harrier EV is anticipated to be 500 kilometres.
This all-electric SUV is supposed to be built on the revised Harrier, which was inspired by the Curvv concept. But the model will have certain EV-specific styling cues to set it apart from its ICE-powered brothers like a new colour scheme with shades of white and bronze.
The Tata Harrier EV is anticipated to be on sale in 2024 at a starting price of around Rs 30 lakhs (ex-showroom).
#8. Tata Punch EV
The EV version of Tata Punch is expected to launch in February 2014. The Punch’s electric edition is probably going to come in four variants: XE, XT, ZX, and ZX Plus Tech Lux. However, the company unveiled a new naming pattern for the revised Tata Nexon EV, which it may use for the Punch EV as well. This group of names includes Pure, Creative, Fearless, and Smart.
The exterior of the new Punch EV might have split headlamps, fog lamps, an LED tail light system, a blanked-off grille, dual-tone alloy wheels, an integrated spoiler with a stop lamp set high, and a rear wiper and washer.
In the interior department, the Punch EV is expected to be fitted with a huge touchscreen entertainment system, an electronic parking brake, a digital instrument cluster, a flat-bottom steering wheel, automated climate control, cruise control, and iRA-linked car technology.
The expected price for Punch EV is between 9.5 lakh to 12.5 lakh and will be put to the test against Tata Tiago EV and the Citroen eC3.
#9. Maruti Suzuki WagonR EV
Since its launch in 1999, the Maruti Suzuki WagonR has been a popular compact family vehicle in India. The company is eager to introduce an electric WagonR for the Indian market to capitalise on its current level of popularity.
Though Maruti has not disclosed the vehicle’s specifications, when it goes on sale in 2024, it will probably be the most reasonably priced EV in India. According to the sources, Maruti is testing fifty of WagonR EVs to determine the ideal ratio between charging time and driving distance.
When it comes to the design aspects, the headlights and split radiator grille are visible from the front. Even though the front of the vehicle doesn’t have an engine, the front bumper still features a large grille. The EV will have the newest infotainment system with a touchscreen that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. As it is an entry-level EV, the interior decor and seats will resemble that of the gasoline-powered model.
In the first half of 2024, this new Maruti model is anticipated to be released on the Indian market. In addition, the Maruti Suzuki WagonR EV is expected to cost between 7 and 10 lakhs. It will face off against the Tata Tiago EV and the MG Comet EV.
Conclusion
In our opinion, 2024 is going to be a disruptive year for the Indian EV market. One of the main reasons is Maruti Suzuki’s entry to the market.
For many Indians, Maruti is the synonym for car. Many have observed that, still the majority of Indians are a bit hesitant towards the idea of all-electric cars. Maruti Suzuki’s entry to the EV market will certainly favour the EVs to get an acceptance for them in the hearts of Indians.
At the same time, we have to notice that Tata Motors is also expanding its product line to cater for the demand for more affordable EVs. Also, we have some high-end models from Kia, Hyundai, BYD and other companies entering the market next year. As a result, by the end of 2024, the Indian EV industry can satisfy a wide range of customer segments and all together a thriving environment for the EV industry will be realised.
