Automaker bets on higher range, faster charging, and accessible pricing to lift EV adoption in the entry segment.
20 Feb 2026 | 1 Views | By Darshan Nakhwa, Prerna Lidhoo and Ketan Thakkar
Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd expects Punch.ev volumes to grow between 30–50% over the next year, following the launch of the upgraded model, which addresses key barriers to EV adoption in the entry segment.
“I believe that a 30–50% jump we should get,” Managing Director and CEO Shailesh Chandra ...
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Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd expects Punch.ev volumes to grow between 30–50% over the next year, following the launch of the upgraded model, which addresses key barriers to EV adoption in the entry segment.
“I believe that a 30–50% jump we should get,” Managing Director and CEO Shailesh Chandra said, referring to expected growth in Punch.ev volumes over the next 12 months.
Punch currently contributes about 15–20% of Tata Motors’ EV sales. Chandra said the model’s share in the overall EV mix may remain broadly stable as the company expands its portfolio with new launches, including the Tata Sierra EV.
Entry Segment Holds Key
India’s electric passenger vehicle market has grown steadily over the past seven years, with total sales expected to cross 200,000 units in FY26 and penetration at around 4–5%. However, growth remains skewed toward higher-priced vehicles.
Chandra said EV penetration in the sub-₹12-lakh segment is just about 1.6%, compared with around 10% in cars priced above ₹12 lakh. “This is a real challenge in the mainstream,” Chandra said.
Tata Motors is seeking to bridge this gap by addressing key barriers such as range anxiety, charging access, and price concerns with the new Punch.ev, which comes with a 40 kWh battery pack and a claimed 350 km real-world range. The certified range stands at 464 km, while the company has highlighted its C75 real-world range metric based on data from vehicles that have collectively run over 12 billion km.
“This will be the first car in the entry segment which can deliver a 350 km real-world range with a 40 kWh battery,” Chandra said.
The vehicle supports fast charging, with a 20–80% charge in about 26 minutes and a 135 km top-up achievable in 15 minutes. It also comes with a lifetime battery warranty.
“We are introducing the lifetime battery warranty for the first time in India. And you will get a very accessible and attractive price point,” he said.
Chandra said the company’s transition from conversion-based EVs to dedicated EV architectures over the past seven years has enabled improvements in range, charging speed, and localisation.
“So by offering you this kind of a comprehensive solution in the entry segment,” he said, “this will be a car which will go beyond the city limits.”
Competition Intensifies
Tata Motors’ accelerated growth over the past three years has been driven by its first-mover advantage in the electric passenger vehicle market, where it once held over 70% market share. That share has now declined to about 40% in retail sales in calendar year 2025 amid intensifying competition from players such as JSW MG Motor India and Mahindra & Mahindra.
Despite the erosion in share, Tata Motors remains the largest electric PV maker in India and continues to have the widest portfolio among mainstream manufacturers. Its lineup includes the Tata Nexon EV, Tata Tiago EV, Tata Tigor EV/Tata Xpres-T (for fleet buyers), Tata Punch EV, Tata Curvv EV, and the recently launched Tata Harrier EV.
In 2025, Tata Motors recorded EV retail sales of 81,125 units, up 18% from the previous year. The company’s EV penetration in its passenger vehicle portfolio rose to 14% in 2025, compared with 12% in 2024. Over the past three years, Tata Motors has sold more than 220,000 electric vehicles, translating into EV penetration of about 13% across total passenger vehicle sales of around 1.69 million units.