The electric car revolution, which has already affected the global electric car market, has also made its mark in India, with all major companies entering this market. However, the leader among Indian companies is Tata. Tata has introduced electric versions of all its entry-level cars, including the SUV Tata Nexon EV and the hatchback Tata Tiago EV. On the other hand, another Indian car company, Mahindra and Mahindra, recently launched its electric SUV XUV400. While these cars are excellent in their respective segments, there are even better cars available globally in this price range, and now the focus is shifting towards India.
Today, we are talking about a car that costs just nine lakh rupees and provides a range of 405 kilometers on a single charge. Currently, in the Indian car market, there are two best-selling electric cars, and both are from Tata. The first one is Tata Nexon EV, and the second one is Tiago EV. The starting price of Nexon EV’s showroom is 14.49 lakhs, with a range of 312 kilometers and a 30.2 kWh battery. On the other hand, Tiago EV goes up to 250 kilometers on a single charge with its 19.2 kWh battery, and its starting price is 8.69 lakhs. The car we are talking about here surpasses both Nexon and Tiago in terms of range, as it goes up to 405 kilometers on a single charge, and it is available at a starting price of just nine lakh rupees.
Comparing with Petrol Cars
Now you might wonder how it’s cheaper than petrol cars. The Tata Tiago or any petrol car in this segment starts at around six lakhs and goes up to eight lakhs in the showroom. Talking specifically about Tata Tiago, the petrol version’s showroom price ranges from 5.60 lakhs to 8.11 lakhs. Considering the on-road price, you would need to spend around one lakh rupees more. For instance, if you opt for the mid-model, the on-road price would be around 8.50 lakhs, while the top model would be close to 10 lakhs. On the other hand, when you buy an electric car, you currently don’t have to pay any taxes to the government. Instead, you might even get a subsidy of up to one lakh rupees. You only need to get insurance. For example, Tata Tiago EV’s base model’s Delhi showroom price is 8.69 lakhs. With an additional insurance cost of around 36,000 rupees, the total cost would be approximately 9.05 lakhs.
The BYD Seagull: Affordable EV with 405 Km Range
Now, let’s talk about the BYD Seagull, an electric vehicle with a range of 405 kilometers, priced at just nine lakh rupees. It was launched in April of this year and has caused a stir in the global market. It comes with a 38.88 kWh battery, which is double the capacity of the Tata Tiago EV. It was launched at a rate of just 11,000 dollars. On the day of its launch, more than 10,000 units were already booked.
Availability of BYD EV in India
You might be wondering where this EV is available and if Indian customers can buy it. The company that manufactures this EV is called “Build Your Dreams” or BYD, which is originally a Chinese company but has become an MNC with investments from renowned investors like Warren Buffett. BYD is currently the world’s leading electric vehicle manufacturer, competing directly with Elon Musk’s Tesla. BYD has launched several electric vehicles internationally. In China, electric cars are gaining immense popularity, with over 19 million cars sold in June alone, out of which 30.9 lakhs were electric. BYD is dominating a significant portion of this market.
When will the BYD EV be available in India?
After learning all of this, you might wonder when the BYD Seagull EV will be available in India. Well, this is not a mere speculation but a reality. If everything goes well, this car will soon be available for sale in India. The company has expressed its interest in entering the Indian market and has proposed a one billion dollar investment plan to the Indian government. As a part of this plan, BYD has chosen to collaborate with an Indian company, Megha Engineering and Infrastructures, based in Hyderabad. With this investment, the company aims to establish an electric car manufacturing unit in India.
