Local and international auto industry presents their latest designs for EVs and PHEVs at the 2010 Auto Show in New Dehli, while the Indian Government announces additional incentives to boost electrified transportation.

Competition to enter the Indian car market is intensifying as india takes its place as the second most promising market after China. Indian auto sales are projected to grow by 16% this year to 1.4 million sold units. This has ensured that the Indian Auto show attracts a lot of attention from leading car manufacturers. In particular manufacturers are showing an interest in the compact cars market within which Electric Vehicles (EV) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Models (PHEV) are making an appearance in surprisingly large numbers.

• GM and Reva: GM is presenting its range of EV’s at the show, the Chevy Volt and the Chevy Spark Electric. The latter car will be identical in design to the petroleum version but will have an Electric motor. A recent deal between Indian electric car manufacturer Reva and GM has ensures that Reva will provide the electric drive train for the Spark. The deal also includes tight cooperation on an electric car designed for the Indian market that will debut later in 2010.


• Tata Motors: According to a report in the Economic Times Tata is going to showcase an electric/hybrid version of its peoples car Nano at the end of the week and also an electric version of its Indica, which has been in development in Norway. Tata had bought Norway-based electric vehicle maker Miljo Grenland/Innovasjon in 2008. The Norwegian firm will manufacture super polymer lithium ion batteries and electric vehicles based on Tata Motors’ range of products as well as conduct research and development (R&D) in allied technologies.


• Toyota, Nissan and more: Toyota is presenting its third generation version of the Prius while Honda, Renault and Hyundai are presenting various other EV’s. Renault’s alliance partner, Nissan, announced that it plans to become a major contender in the Indian market at a press conference during the show. Nissan Motor India CEO Kiminobu Tokuyama told Reuters that although it has overlooked the market it is “not too late” to enter market. Suzuki is putting its hybrid Maruti SX4 sedan and a multi-purpose van concept on display. Furthermore Indian national champion, Tata, premiered its new cars for 2010 at the auto show the Aria, Magic Iris and Venture. Amongst them was a prototype for an EV the Indicruz.


• Mahindra & Mahindra: The Indian automaker M&M is planning to bring an all-electric car to New Delhi Auto Expo later this week. It is expected to be a four-seater that will at first only be available in India. The Economic Times reports that the vehicle would be available by the end of 2010.


• Renault: Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit inaugurated Twizy Z.E. Concept, a new electric car from Renault, which will be out on Indian roads by 2011. The blue and white two-seater works on the green technology principle. Welcoming Renault’s new car, Ms. Dikshit said Delhi roads would be better off with electric cars like this one. “They are developing this new technology and it will take them one or one and a half year more to come out. We will give as many incentives as we can to such cars which do not contribute to pollution,” she said.

Government incentives to boost the EV industry

To underline Dikshit’s statement, the Delhi government has announced that it is also planning incentives like base price discount, lower VAT, and road tax and registration charge refund to boost the sale of environment-friendly electric cars. “We will be ready to provide electric charge stations in Delhi when such cars will be ready for launch in India. The government wants to bring down the city’s pollution level,” a senior government official said. The government is already providing a 15% subsidy on the base price of the Reva, the first Indian-made electric car, along with 12.5% VAT exemption, and road tax and registration charge refund.