Tata to launch UK-built EV

By Simon Harris
|
24 December 2010

Indian car manufacturer Tata will launch a small electric car produced in the UK in 2011 and wants fleets to take part in the first trials.

The Jaguar-Land Rover owner will build the Tata Vista EV in the West Midlands using battery technology from Norway and drivetrain components from Canada with car bodies supplied in kit form from India.

The Vista, which qualifies for the £5,000 government subsidy on electric vehicles, will become available from next summer with a full UK market launch planned for 2012.

Tata says the car will initially be available to fleets to build a strong customer base, and estimates about 25 on the road in its first year.

Customers are expected to be chosen from local businesses in the West Midlands.

Author: Simon Harris

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Patriot - 24/12/2010 22:29

'using battery technology from Norway and drivetrain components from Canada with car bodies supplied in kit form from India.' So this vehicle will be ASSEMBLED in Britain,not BUILT in Britain. Sub-contract the assembly work and screw £5k of taxpayers money per car out of the government. Not a bad business model is it? Sme's are screaming out for loans and assistance from the banks-mostly owned by taxpayers-but apparently they don't count. Economics of the madhouse.
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giantradio - 26/12/2010 16:52

This can only be a good thing for the UK market and gives us a good start in this exciting new industry that will bring benefits for the future,we should enbrace this move.
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Patriot - 29/12/2010 23:51

giantradio wrote: This can only be a good thing for the UK market and gives us a good start in this exciting new industry that will bring benefits for the future,we should enbrace this move. Have to disagree. Why is this good for the the UK market? What good start? What benefits? The Nano EV takes 10 seconds to reach 60kph (which equates to 37.5 mph) So other than clog city streets along with buses this 'exiting' new vehicle will be totally useless on dual carriageways,clearways and motorways.Unless it will be used as a mobile roadblock. Guess how the power will be generated to recharge this motorised skateboard? Nothing new or exiting about that technology.
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