Tata Motors Turns To Chery Platform for Premium EV Plans

Tata Motors is planning to license an electric vehicle platform from China’s Chery as it looks to revive its delayed premium EV programme, according to people familiar with the matter, news agency Reuters reported on Wednesday. In a statement, Tata confirmed it will utilise the Freelander platform developed through a joint venture between Chery and Jaguar Land Rover in China. Vehicles based on this architecture will be manufactured at Tata’s newly inaugurated facility in Tamil Nadu.

The development reflects a broader shift in the industry, where domestic carmakers are increasingly relying on Chinese EV technology to remain competitive, even as Chinese brands face restricted access to the Indian passenger vehicle market.

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Tata Motors, the country’s largest electric carmaker, intends to deploy the platform for its Avinya range of premium EVs. At least two models are planned, with the first expected to be introduced in 2027, according to sources. This marks a departure from the company’s earlier strategy of using Jaguar Land Rover’s electrified modular architecture (EMA), which had been earmarked for Avinya models targeted for a 2025 rollout. That plan was shelved last year after JLR dropped its proposal to manufacture EMA-based EVs in India.

The agreement with Chery is expected to help Tata recover lost time by providing access to ready-to-deploy EV technologies and features, reducing development timelines and investment requirements. The first Avinya model using this platform is likely to be imported from China in kit form for local assembly, with efforts underway to increase localisation. A second model is expected by 2029, with the possibility of expanding the line-up further.

“Avinya is being developed as a global premium brand. Our collaboration with JLR and its partners will be an important pillar of our global premium EV journey,” Tata said, adding that the arrangement would help deliver the intended proposition for its luxury EV portfolio at scale.

Chery confirmed its role as a supplier, stating that its collaboration with Tata builds on its existing partnership with JLR. “Chery will act as a supplier to Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles. Each project operates under its own separate agreement with standard commercial terms,” the company said.

Jaguar Land Rover has already been working with Chery to develop electrified models under the Freelander brand, with production based in Changshu using the Chinese automaker’s platform.

One of the people cited described the agreement as a temporary measure, indicating that Tata still plans to develop its own dedicated EV architecture over time.

Electric vehicles currently account for around 14 per cent of Tata Motors’ total sales, with a target to increase this to 30 per cent by 2030. However, rising competition from Mahindra & Mahindra and JSW MG Motor is beginning to challenge its leadership, highlighting gaps in its product pipeline.

The move also reflects a wider industry trend. Indian automakers are stepping up investments in EV technology, but continue to lag behind Chinese manufacturers in terms of speed, cost efficiencies and technological capability. As a result, platform-sharing and technology partnerships are becoming an increasingly practical route to remain competitive in the evolving global EV landscape.