Electric vehicles have gained popularity in recent years and the EV segment in India specifically has grown rapidly over the course of the past few years, with the introduction of more and more offerings.
The four-wheel electric vehicle market now has a number of offerings in the country, which will only grow with the arrival of the new year. Many manufacturers have already announced their plans to introduce electric vehicles to the Indian market in 2021. There are also some whose plans to introduce electric vehicles to India were delayed until next year, due to the global pandemic and the subsequent shutdown.
The year 2021 appears to be gearing up to witness quite a few automakers entering India’s EV segment, either through brand-new models or an electric version of an existing model.
Here is our pick of the top Six electric cars expected to go on sale in India in 2021.
Audi e-Tron
The e-Tron was scheduled to go on sale earlier this year. However, the launch had to be postponed until 2021, considering the global pandemic and the national shutdown.
The new Audi e-Tron will be powered by a 95 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, offering a range of 436 km on a single charge. The prices of the new Audi e-Tron will be similar to those of its competitors in the segment, in the range of Rs 1 crore, ex-showroom.
Tesla Model 3
Tesla is ready to finally enter the Indian market. The American electric vehicle maker is scheduled to begin operations in India with the Model 3. The Tesla Model 3 electric car is said to go on sale sometime in mid-2021, and bookings for it are scheduled to begin early next year.
Recently, there were reports that the brand established an R&D facility in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The company is said to sell its cars directly to customers, without any dealership. Once launched in India, the Tesla Model 3 is expected to be priced in the Rs 60 lakh range, ex-showroom.
Jaguar I-Pace
Jaguar has also announced the launch of its first fully electric SUV in India, with the I-Pace. Bookings for the new Jaguar i-Pace have already started, with the British marquee confirming the launch of the electric SUV in March 2021.
The new Jaguar i-Pace will rival the likes of the recently introduced Mercedes-Benz EQC and upcoming Audi e-Tron SUV offerings. The I-Pace electric SUV comes with a 90 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that produces more than 395 bhp and offers a claimed maximum range of 470 km on a single charge.
Tata Altroz EV
The Tata Altroz EV was first unveiled by the 2020 Auto Expo brand. The Altroz EV, as the name suggests, is the all-electric version of the brand’s first premium hatchback to go on sale recently. The new Tata Altroz EV is confirmed to go on sale in 2021, however an exact schedule for its launch has yet to be revealed.
Once launched in India, the Tata Altroz EV could carry the same electric powertrain as the brand’s Nexon EV offering. The price, however, could be slightly lower than the Nexon EV, with an expected range of Rs 10 – 12 lakhs, ex-showroom.
Renault Kwid Electric
The French automaker’s electric hatchback is currently sold exclusively in China as K-ZE. The electric Kwid will go on sale in Europe sometime in the first half of 2021, before arriving in India later in the year.
The electric Renault Kwid will be the brand’s first all-electric offering on the Indian market. The electric Kwid is powered by a 26.8 kWh lithium-ion battery that offers 270 km of range on a single charge. Once introduced in India, the electric Renault Kwid will compete with the electric Maruti Suzuki WagonR.
Mahindra eKUV100
The Mahindra eKUV100 was showcased at Auto Expo 2020 earlier this year. Mahindra even announced pricing for the electric SUV, which at Rs 8.25 lakh, ex-showroom will be the most affordable EV in the country.
The eKUV100 comes with a design similar to your conventional IC engine SUV. The Mahindra eKUV100 is scheduled to go on sale sometime in early 2021, probably within the first three months. Once introduced in India, it will rival those of the Tata Nexon EV.
This is our pick for the top EVs in India in 2021, If you have something we missed on the list, do mention in the comments below.
