Tata Curvv.ev To Debut This Festive Season; ICE Versions To Follow

The highly anticipated Tata Curvv, initially expected to launch in the first half of 2024, will now see a delayed market release and price announcement, according to Vivek Srivatsa, COO & Head-Marketing, Sales and Service Strategy, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility. In a recent chat with Acko Drive, Srivatsa mentioned that the new Currv will most likely be manufactured at the new Sanand plant, in Gujarat, which was previously owned by Ford India. The new Curvv will first debut as an electric vehicle (EV), with petrol and diesel variants following later.

Originally, Tata Motors planned to start production of the Curvv.ev in the first quarter of 2024, aiming for a mid-year launch. However, this timeline has been adjusted to June, pushing the release to the festive season. Production for the petrol and diesel variants is expected to commence around September, with its market entry projected for late 2024 or early 2025.

Tata Motors is prioritising the Curvv.ev to establish a strong presence in the compact SUV segment, similar to its strategy with the Nexon.ev and Punch.ev. This approach aims to secure a competitive edge over upcoming models like the Hyundai Creta EV and the Maruti eVX, along with its Toyota counterpart.

The delay in the Curvv's launch is attributed to the general elections, which typically affect market activity. Additionally, Tata Motors wants to focus on stabilising the production and delivery of its current models before introducing a new segment. The new facility that opened earlier this year will help ramp up the volumes required before announcing its market debut. The new Sanand facility, which is right beside the main Tata plant, with an annual manufacturing capacity of 3 lakh units, scalable to 4.2 lakh units a year.

Earlier in 2024, Tata Motors showcased a near-production version of the Curvv at the Bharat Mobility Show. The Curvv, based on the Nexon platform, features a similar design with distinct EV-specific elements. It will be 313 mm longer than the Nexon and have a 62 mm longer wheelbase. The interiors of the Curvv will also share many similarities with the Nexon.

The Curvv will be powered by Tata’s new 123 bhp, 1.2-litre, three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, available with both manual and automatic transmissions. The diesel variant will utilise the Nexon’s 1.5-litre, four-cylinder engine, making it one of the few diesel options in the compact SUV segment. A CNG variant is expected to follow. The EV version will incorporate Tata’s Gen 2 acti.ev architecture, with an anticipated range of 450-500 km.

Tata Motors aims to achieve annual sales of approximately 80,000 units across all powertrain options. The company projects monthly sales of around 2,000 EV units, with the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) variants contributing an additional 5,000 units.