India EV Conclave 2026: Shailesh Chandra on What Drove Tata Motors’ EV Success

Tata Motors’ decision to invest in electric vehicles at a time when charging infrastructure, suppliers and customer demand were still developing has played a major role in its EV business, according to Shailesh Chandra of Tata Motors.

Speaking to Autocar Professional’s Mukul Yudhveer Singh at the India EV Conclave 2026, Chandra said the company had backed electric mobility nearly eight to nine years ago, despite the uncertainties surrounding the technology. Over the years, Tata Motors expanded its electric vehicle portfolio across price segments and worked with suppliers and charging companies to develop the supporting ecosystem.

Chandra said charging infrastructure remains a major concern, as EV demand and supply could grow faster than the charging network. He also pointed to two challenges in the affordable EV segment: achieving price parity with comparable petrol and diesel cars and offering a driving range of more than 400km to address customer concerns.

Discussing India’s potential as a global automotive manufacturing hub, Chandra said the country’s large domestic market provides manufacturers and suppliers with the volumes needed to become competitive internationally. He said India’s experience in developing vehicles that meet quality, reliability and durability requirements at competitive prices could become an advantage in export markets.

On charging infrastructure, Chandra also raised the issue of funding and whether the sector should qualify for priority-sector lending. He said the government, OEMs and other stakeholders would need to work together to address the challenge.