Tata Motors will showcase its newest electric vehicle – the Punch EV – at Auto Expo 2023, most likely in a near-production avatar. It is understood that the all-electric version of the Punch compact SUV will enter production around June 2023, followed by a market launch around the festive season in 2023.

Designed to be an EV from ground-up
Unlike Tata’s existing electric vehicles – the Nexon EV, Tigor EV and Tiago EV – which are direct ICE to EV conversions, the Punch EV will be based on a new Sigma architecture, which is essentially a heavily modified version of the ALFA (Agile, Light, Flexible, Advanced) platform. The ALFA architecture underpins the ICE-powered Punch and even the Altroz hatchback and was, in fact, designed with electrification in mind right from the start.

The Sigma architecture thus sees changes like the removal of the transmission tunnel and a modified fuel tank space to create a flat floor for a large battery pack. The re-engineered platform has been optimised for electrification, which means Sigma-based models are likely to be lighter, more energy efficient and also more spacious than an ICE car converted to an EV.

The Punch EV is likely to use a similar powertrain set-up as Tata Motors existing EVs, with a permanent magnet synchronous motor powering the front wheels, although exact battery specifications are not known yet. Tata Motors could be offering multiple battery pack options (as is the case with the Nexon, Tiago and Tigor EVs) to position the vehicle across a wide price range.

Elsewhere, the Punch EV could also get cosmetic updates like revised bumpers, coloured accents and new wheels to set it apart from its ICE counterpart. Similarly, the interior could also be spruced up with similar highlights, along with an update to the equipment list.

Expected price
It will be interesting to see how Tata Motors positions the Punch EV in its existing EV line-up. Depending on the powertrain, it will be positioned above the Tiago EV, although there could be some price overlap with the Tigor EV. If the price delta between the Tiago EV and its ICE sibling is anything to go by, starting prices for the Punch EV will likely be Rs 100,000-150,000 more than the top-end Punch AMT.

Punch CNG likely in the offing
Tata Motors is deploying a multi-powertrain strategy to maximise volumes of its existing product lines. Models like the Tiago and Tigor are currently available with as many as three fuel options – petrol, CNG and electric – and there could even be a CNG version for after the Punch EV is rolled out.

Earlier this year, Tata Motors showcased two electric car concepts – the Curvv and the Avinya –which will also be on display at the Auto Expo 2023. The former is based on Gen 2 of the Nexon EV platform, while the latter is underpinned by a grounds-up EV skateboard architecture. These two platforms, along with the Sigma, will cover all bases for Tata Motors in the EV space till 2030.

Punch EV-atar should give sales a new charge
Launched in the Indian market priced at Rs 549,000, the petrol-only Punch is just 15 months old in the market and has already stamped its market dominance. From October 2021 through to end-November 2022, the Punch has sold a total of 141,880 units – 52,716 in the last six months of FY2022 and 89,164 units in the April-November 2022 period.

This works out to a monthly sales average of 9,458 units, which is reason enough the Punch has been a regular in the Top 10 best-selling cars list, in 10 out of 15 months. The Punch EV will only serve to give a new charge to the model’s sales as will its the recently launched sibling, the Tiago EV.

Additional sales data inputs by Ajit Dalvi

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