What was the decision-making point? Was it technology, policy, or consumer behavior? We felt the nation needed this, that EV had to be the destination technology. Cars sold above 12 lakhs are about 16 lakhs, below 12 lakhs about 30 lakhs. If you don't mainstream EVs below 12 lakhs, you can't talk about mainstreaming EVs. How do you see charging infrastructure in the next decade?
So, it will be startups and private players who enter the space, but some orchestration is needed in my view.
Welcome to Let's Talk EV, where we unpack ideas shaping mobility. Today's guest is Mr. Shailesh Chandra, MD of Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility. In this conversation we explore whether this is India's EV decade, consumer adoption, software and ecosystem integration, policy, charging infrastructure, and the road ahead to 2030 and 2035. So, let's get started.
Hello and welcome to Let's Talk EV. Today we are joined by Mr. Shailesh Chandra. Welcome, sir.
So, first, do you think this decade will be remembered as the EV decade?
You see, the start of EVs kickstarted in 2020 with products like Nexon EV. Before that it was experimentation. From 2020 the journey started, and we are at a stage where it's no longer experimental. A foundation has been created for EVs to be considered seriously. By the end of the decade, with 15-20% penetration, it will be significant. When you compare from having no consumers, no ecosystem, very expensive cars with low range, many barriers have been overcome. In the next 5 years the top six players have entered, so the next 5 years will be much faster. It would not be wrong to say EV got established this decade.
Right. Let's take viewers back to 2017-2018. Tata Motors made a bold step into EVs. What was the decision-making point? Technology, policy, or consumer behavior? What conviction did you have in the boardroom?
It's a good framing. Actually, none of them made sense at that time. Technology was not seen as viable, consumers thought it was 10 years away, policy was nascent. So what made us believe? We saw the imperatives from the nation's perspective: climate change, energy security (75% oil imports), and pollution. 15 of the 20 most polluted cities are in India. Also, countries like Norway and China were showing high adoption. These gave us early confidence that the transition would go towards EV. We didn't know when, but we felt the nation would need this. So we took the next step with a foggy road approach—visualize 50 meters ahead. Started with government fleets, then employee transport, then created a compelling product like Nexon EV after a nationwide survey. We expanded to six products, worked with Tata Power on ecosystem, and built localization. Now EVs sell more than 2 lakh a year.
So zoom in today: how have customer choices evolved? Are EVs chosen for economics, environment, or superior experience?
It's the cycle from early adopters to early majority to mainstream. Initially it was environmentalists, tech-savvy, financially savvy, and even doctors for reasons we later understood. Now we are in early majority, people buy for value: best driving experience, lowest running and maintenance costs. Remaining barriers are upfront price parity in the entry segment, range above 400 km for mental comfort, and visibility of charging infrastructure.
How do you see software architecture and ecosystem integration defining EVs now?
If you bifurcate the industry into cars above 18 lakhs, 12-18, and below 12 lakhs, the high-end has overcome barriers due to GST arbitrage. The entry segment is challenged because the GST benefit is smaller and the low base makes it hard to give 450 km range. Punch EV steps in to address that. Once cost and tech improve, differentiation will come from software-defined architecture and integration with the ecosystem.
Let's dig into the Punch EV. What are consumer trends—is it a city car? Can it create mass adoption?
