Kia India Enters Mainstream Electric Car Space With Carens Clavis EV at Rs 17.99 Lakh

Kia India today raised the competition in India's electric vehicle market with the announcement of its first mass-market offering, the Carens Clavis EV, at a starting price of Rs 17.99 lakh. 

This seven-seater electric car is set to intensify competition within India's rapidly expanding sub-Rs 20 lakh EV segment with its base variant, while its top-end variant is priced at Rs 24.49 lakh.

Kia India current sells two electric cars - EV 6 and EV9 - priced in the luxury segment. These two models are imported and will be sold as completely built units (CBUs) here. 

The made-in-India Carens Clavis EV is available in four variants, with prices ranging from Rs 17.99 lakh to Rs 24.49 lakh. The model comes in two battery options - a 51.4 kWh pack offering an ARAI-certified range of 490 km and a 42 kWh pack with a 404 km ARAI-certified range.

The automaker will open the booking for the model on July 22. “The Carens Clavis EV represents the next step in this [EV mobility] journey. It is built on three core pillars - our proven global EV technology, advanced features that simplify the driving experience, and our unique RV philosophy that stands for movement, flexibility, and togetherness,” Gwanggu Lee, managing director and CEO of Kia India said.

The company said Carens Clavis EV is optimized fast charging capabilities, allowing for a 10-80% charge in 39 minutes via a 100kW DC fast charger. The model also boasts of its electric motor achieving 95% efficiency and the 51.4kWh battery model enables a 0-100 km/h acceleration in just 8.4 seconds. It also offers ADAS Level 2 with over 20 autonomous features including smart cruise control with stop and go, lane keeping assist and front collision avoidance assit.

The year 2025 witnessed a slew of electric car launches across various segments, including the MG Windsor EV, Tata Curvv EV, Tata Punch EV, Tata Harrier EV, Mahindra XUV.e8, and Mahindra BE 6, among others. India’s largest car maker Maruti Suzuki is also set to introduce its first electric car this year.

The launch of Kia's Clavis EV comes at a crucial juncture for India's electric car market. What was once a landscape dominated by Tata Motors, with its ICE-derived Nexon EV and Tiago EV, is now rapidly diversifying.

New entrants like JSW MG Motor, Mahindra & Mahindra, and Hyundai are steadily gaining ground, challenging Tata's long-held first-mover advantage and resulting in a more competitive landscape.

Tata Motors maintained its lead as the top-selling brand in the electric car market during June with 4,664 units. However, the automaker has been witnessing a significant erosion of its market dominance. Its electric passenger vehicle market share plummeted to 35.8% from a commanding 62.7% in June 2024. This steep descent clearly signals that newer, more specialized rivals are rapidly chipping away at Tata's crucial first-mover advantage.

JSW MG Motor India has emerged as a disruptor in the market recently. The company achieved a remarkable 167% year-on-year sales growth in June, retailing 3,945 units. While earlier models like the ZS EV and Comet established MG’s presence in the India electric car market, the company’s recent surge is predominantly powered by the Windsor, its strategically positioned mid-size electric SUV. 

The Windsor's performance, practicality, and competitive pricing resonated strongly with Indian EV buyers, particularly in major metro and urban centers. This success has propelled MG to a significant 30.3% share of the E-PV market, closing the gap with segment leader Tata Motors to less than six percentage points.

Kia India said the Carens Clavis EV is designed to cater to urban families looking for a practical electric mobility option that does not compromise on space or convenience.