Marking the start of an electrifying first week at the 16th Auto Expo, India’s automobile manufacturers and vehicle exhibitors on Wednesday launched and unveiled a total of over 59 products, including both global and India premier, with vehicles across passenger and commercial segments and high on innovative clean, connected and greener solutions grabbing the spotlight.
Among the most significant developments of the day was the launch of Hyundai IONIQ 5, the first dedicated EV model from Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) embodying the Korean auto major’s shift towards intelligent technology, innovation and sustainability. The first of HMIL’s offering on a dedicated electric global modular platform, the IONIQ 5 promises cutting-edge driving experience with a range of 631 km per full charge and benefits of ultrafast charging that can charge the vehicle’s 72.6 kWh battery from 10 per cent to 80 per cent in 18 minutes with a 350 kW DC charger and in 21 minutes with a 150 kW DC charger. Importantly, the IONIQ 5 also offers customers over 60 safety features like electric parking brake, multi collision-avoidance brake ensuring utmost customer safety, 6 airbags, virtual engine sound system and power child lock. Hyundai’s sister concern
Setting the stage for a stiff turf battle, Suzuki Motor Corporation showcased the Concept eVX or ‘Emotional Versatile Cruiser,’ a mid-size electric SUV designed and developed by SMC as the global Japanese car manufacturer reinforces the promotion of a range of global measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated from its business. The company’s ‘first global strategic EV’, as referred to by Toshihiro Suzuki, Representative Director and President of SMC, will be powered by a 60kWh battery pack offering up to 550km of driving range and brought to market by 2025. As announced in March last year, SMC will invest Rs 100 billion in the production of BEVs and their batteries. With the EV race getting intense, Maruti Suzuki India alongwith its parent company will bring new products, technologies, investments and set up new facilities in India across a full spectrum of technologies like hybrids, CNG, bio-CNG, ethanol and electric using scale and localization.
Leading global new energy vehicle manufacturer BYD unveiled its luxury electric sedan BYD Seal ahead of its launch in India in Q4 2023 while KIA India introduced its all-electric suv concept EV9 and announced Rs 2,000 crore investment in India for EV-related R&D, production, and infrastructure development. The first day of the Expo also saw Hexall Motors’ launch of the ‘Mammoth Series’ of electric passenger L5 and electric cargo L5 vehicles with highest payload and passenger capacity in its segment. Also, it has launched a fully electric city bus bubble with D+41 seating capacity.
The two and three wheeler space saw action with companies like Atul Greentech Private announcing foray into the electric space with the unveiling of two electric three wheeler models — the Atul Mobili and Atul Energie. Another innovation-led tech start-up, Matters, showcased the 6 KWh variant of the Matter-bike which is India’s first geared motorbike built on the innovative Matter-bike platform and India’s first electric motorcycle manufacturer TORK Motors unveiled the all-new electric motorcycle – KRATOS X aimed at making electric motorcycle segment more accessible and pragmatic. Greaves Cotton displayed its EV might with six new electric two and three wheelers for last mile passenger and cargo transportation across consumer categories and also unveiled Ampere Primus, a new high-speed e-scooter.
Set on achieving net-zero emissions by 2040 for passenger vehicle business, Tata Motors presented 12 vehicles and concepts of smart and green range of personal mobility solutions led by the first in India all-wheel drive electric SUV, Harrier EV developed on the Gen 2 architecture, Tiago.ev, which is aimed to make EVs more accessible, the Avinya and showstopper Sierra.ev. The EV contribution in Tata Motors portfolio is likely to increase to 25 per cent in 5 years and reach 50 per cent by 2030. With a target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2045 for commercial vehicle business, the company unveiled a comprehensive range of sustainable solutions across CV segments powered by natural gas, electric and hydrogen. On display are India’s first Hydrogen fuel cell bus for commercial application, first hydrogen fuel cell powered tractor concept and first hydrogen ICE powered concept truck.
Ashok Leyland displayed seven advanced mobility solutions — battery electric vehicle, fuel cell electric vehicle, hydrogen internal combustion engine (ice) vehicle, liquefied natural gas vehicle, intercity CNG bus and a mini passenger bus covering both the truck and bus segments with an eye on transforming the road transportation sector, as per Dheeraj Hinduja, Executive Chairman of Ashok Leyland.
The commercial passenger segment is also evolving towards sustainable and efficient public transport across the country. Making a debut in the long-range electric luxury coaches segment, JBM Auto’s first 100 per cent electric luxury coach – JBM GALAXY marks a significant shift for the coach industry so far dominated by foreign players. The Volvo Group and Eicher Motor joint venture, VE Commercial Vehicles displayed a range of future-ready mobility solutions with the Eicher brand making debut with India’s longest 13.5m electric intercity coach and Volvo Buses presenting its state-of-art 15m Volvo 9600 Luxury Coach.
