The EV has been in development for quite a while. It was first showcased in concept form at the , and then previewed by a near-production version at Auto Expo 2020. We now have confirmation that the Altroz EV – codenamed Ascot by Tata Motors – is still in the pipeline.

We had reported way back in 2021 that Tata was facing challenges in the development of the Altroz EV. The all-electric premium hatchback was scheduled to be Tata’s second EV after the Nexon EV. However, the major hurdle was the packaging of the battery pack under the floor, which reduced ground clearance by around 20mm to 145mm. Increasing the ’s ground clearance to compensate was not an option as that would completely spoil the stance of the hatch and make it look like a crossover.

Back in January last year, Tata Motors’ MD, Shailesh Chandra, had said that the , after the and . It now seems like there will a further delay in the launch of the all-electric Altroz.

The  is due by this year’s festive season, and along with the mid-cycle refresh for the ICE model, the Punch EV (which shares the Acti.EV architecture with the Altroz EV) will also get updates. The updated Punch EV is likely to come with a revamped EV architecture, which may create room for packaging a larger battery. Based on feedback received by Tata, buyers of small EVs would like the option of using it for inter-city commutes and longer drives, which has prompted the need for a larger battery for the Punch EV.

Considering the will be based on the brand’s updated Acti.EV architecture and is not expected have an issue with battery packaging, even with a larger battery pack, it seems like Tata has successfully sorted out the problem. The Altroz and Punch EVs are also likely to offer similar-sized battery options (the current Punch EV gets 25kWh and 35kWh units with ARAI range of 265km and 365km, respectively) and motors (82hp and 122hp).

While the price points of the Tata Altroz EV and Punch EV (Rs 10 lakh-14.44 lakh) will overlap, their respective target buyers should be different enough, minimalising cannibalisation of sales.

All prices, ex-showroom, India

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