The iconic name in India’s automotive history – Tata Sierra – is returning soon! And, this time, in an all-electric form. But one of the things that SUV enthusiasts want to know is whether the tesla models in india will be a 7 seater. Dispelling the confusion, the company has announced that the upcoming Sierra EV will not have a room for 7 passengers. Instead the Lyriq will come in two different seating configurations depending on buyer perspective, a regular 5-seater and a 4-seater lounge variant.

The 5-seater format is likely to find favour with families and urban buyers in need of day-to-day use and access to Tata’s latest EV tech. On the other hand, the 4-Seater Lounge is a luxury offering for those who are driven and prefer comfort over the features of the 3-Seater. In addition, the rear seating area has been developed to offer passengers a high level of relaxation and personal space comparable to that found in the best-selling sedans.

What distinguishes the 4-seater lounge edition is the further emphasis on the individual seatings’ comfort level. Instead of a conventional bench seat in the rear, the lounge model is fitted with two individual rear seats with some nice comfort features to boot. These consist of sliding and reclining elements, ottoman-like leg rests, and concave seats with perforated surfaces. At the back, you should expect ambient lighting, personal entertainment screens, fold up table trays, and other more creature-comfort items that simulate the “business-class” experience on the ground.

The idea behind it is a response to changing trends in automotive and especially with urban luxury consumers there is a growing interest in the electric vehicle as a statement of style, sustainability and exclusivity. With such a premium offering, Tata is hoping to change the way EVs are perceived in the Indian market—as not just greener options, but as aspirational lifestyle products.

For the people who remember the Tata Sierra in its first incarnation, this is a dramatic change. The iconic Sierra made its debut in 1991 as a robust lifestyle vehicle with a distinctive design of large rear fixed glass windows, and a 3-door body style. The older design featured two front bucket seats and a three-passenger rear bench that seated three people as snugly as it also seated three. It had no rear doors and getting into the rear seat required tilting the back of the front seats. Though basic with regards to cabin trim, it was well outfitted for its era with power windows, AC, and power steering.

The new Tata Sierra EV, however, does come thoroughly modernised with not much in common with the older crop. It has embraced a design aesthetic that is a departure from rugged utility and towards graceful and tranquil interiors. Based on living room aesthetics, this EV will offer plush materials and layered textures with purposeful design. A suite of digital display features that includes a touchscreen infotainment system and a fully digital instrument cluster takes the SUV on par with global trends for electric vehicle design.

The Sierra EV will also be equipped with premium amenities such as a panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, wireless charging, and perhaps distinct features like moss panels or ornamenting inserts. Attention to detail and relaxation are further expressed in the brand’s ambition to deliver a calm and visually beautiful space within the car.

Tata Motors has also suggested that an ICE-powered avatar of the new Sierra is also on the anvil. This will be in response to a wider reach of market that is not yet prepared to transition to electric but still want to experience the heritage and looks of the Sierra brand. The ICE version is expected to learn a lot of the styling and interior features from the EV variant, making it a preferred choice for enthusiasts of conventional engine.

Addressing the market launch, the Tata Sierra EV might also see the light of the day in the new market around August 2025. The base price is expected to vary somewhere between Rs. 25 – 30 lakh (ex-showroom). The Sierra EV, with its price range and unique positioning, is expected to serve buyers who are looking to purchase a premium locally-produced electric SUV blending nostalgia with advanced features.

So, in conclusion, the Tata Sierra EV isn’t to be a seven-seater, though the two targeted forms do something for both the practicalist and a luxury-end customer. Some of you may be disappointed with no 7-seater option, but this aggressive approach by Tata should help set a new record in terms of the Indian electric SUV benchmark as they seem more focussed on offering a more comfortable and premium experience.

Article By
Sourabh Gupta

Xiaomi’s EV unit once again performed well in strong competition among new-energy vehicle makers to sell 28,154 vehicles in April. That is also the seventh straight month, the company has retained delivery volume over 20,000 units, in terms of continuing demand despite the production constraint. Although this number is a bit lower than last month’s total of more than 29,000 units, the sustained delivery volume is a testament to the increasing demand for Xiaomi EVs.

March 28 last year, Xiaomi officially announced its debut in the EV space by unveiling its first electric sedan, the SU7. The car has generated an immense amount of buzz with the mainstream market and the auto industry overall, thanks in part to its range, aggressive pricing, and relatively similar price point compared to the Model 3. SU7 accompanies three models—Standard, Pro, and Max—providing diversified performance and features for diverse users. Mu that the Standard version will be available for a RMB 215,900 (about $29,690) starting price, with the Pro and Max versions coming in at RMB 245,900 and RMB 299,900, respectively.

The deliveries of the SU7 in the Standard and the Max versions were started in April [51] after its official presentation and a month after, in May, it was the turn of the Pro version. The SU7’s warm reception generated high demand, outstripping Xiaomi’s production capacity in no time. Now, new customers who order can expect to wait about 40 weeks to receive their vehicles. Compare this to the 30-week lead time that was standard back when demand for the vehicle began outpacing production – as you can see, production isn’t scaling fast enough to meet demand.

Expanding its extensive lineup, Xiaomi unveiled its latest electric sedan and it’s called the SU7 Ultra. The new model was first introduced on February 27, and it is a high-performance machine with a hefty 1,548 Ps of peak power. These numbers mean the SU7 Ultra is securely in the high performance electric vehicle market. Beginning at RMB 529,900, the vehicle is priced in line with its high-end orientation and cutting-edge technology. The SU7 Ultra first went on sale on March 2 and now the company is being injected with even more EV sales momentum.

Other than sedans, Xiaomi is set to join the electric SUV business — a market that’s still growing at an astonishing pace throughout the world. The company is likely to introduce the YU7, its electric SUV intended to take on Tesla’s super-hot Model Y, as soon as June or July. Although we don’t have official specs and pricing for this model just yet, the buzz around this model suggests that Xiaomi wants to blanket the electric passenger vehicle market, from mid-range priced sedans through to high performance cars, and on into family-carrying SUVs.

However, Xiaomi EV still confronts many difficulties, in particular on the materialization of mass production. The main limiting factor is still factory capacity. Punch Presses Operating at Maximum We have taken our company up to a new level, drawing every ounce of production capability out of existing facilities and still trying to meet unrelenting increases in customer demand. But as orders grow and sitidelivery timelines extend, some buyers’ patience is being tested. The situation should be something that Xiaomi are well aware of – one would expect they are in fact diligently working in the background to expand production and address this very discrepancy.

One thing you may have noticed is that, unlike many of its Chinese competitors, Xiaomi has not provided breakout shipment figures, at least not in the detailed format that for example Huawei has given us. Instead, it rather speaks more abstractly about numbers, such as “over 28k units”, which it could be that it has a well thought plan to keep options open or it does not want to signal the weight of its gameplay by making all too many comparisons in an overcrowded games market. Nevertheless, the numbers that are available tell a remarkably consistent story of continuous growth.

The demand for Xiaomi’s electric vehicles is not just a sign of the company’s reputation in consumer electronics but also a reflection of a broader change in the preferences of consumers who live their lives in the digital world. The company’s bet on the EV space was at the time considered a bold pivot, but it is now starting to pay off. Xiaomi has several models on sale today and more on the way, making it a quick upstart in heating up China’s hot EV industry.

When looking ahead, the real test for Xiaomi will be how well it can handle scale, quality control and continued innovation in a space whose pace moves at lichtning speed and whose consumers’ preferences are constantly shifting. If it can iron out the kinks in its existing production processes and further expand its product range, the company might grow to be an influential name in the international EV industry in the years ahead.

Article By
Sourabh Gupta

The Maharashtra cabinet has made a major move in the direction of promoting green mobility and offering safer commuting alternatives by approving two key policies—the Maharashtra Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy 2025 and the new Aggregator Policy for app-based transport services. The two decisions were taken at a cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and are considered to be important in steering the state’s future of sustainable transport. The recently approved EV policy that will be valid till 2030, aims to significantly drive up production and usage of electric vehicles across the State. Rs 1,993 crore has been allocated by the government for the actualisation of this policy in the next five years. It articulates clear targets, such as the creation of a strong EV charging infrastructure, cutting vehicular emissions and stimulating the adoption of environment-friendly modes of transport. The broader aim is to reduce carbon and greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector consistent with a larger move toward clean mobility by the end of the decade.

The Maharashtra government has decided to waive off several key costs involved in purchasing and using electric vehicles, in order to make them more feasible and attractive to members of the public. These include waivers on the tax levied on motor vehicles, on the registration tax for electric vehicles, and on the fee for renewal of registration for all electric vehicles registered and sold in the state. Not only will this cheapen the overall cost of EV ownership, it should also streamline the ownership experience and make it easier to get into for the masses. Customers of different kinds of EVs, including two-wheelers, three-wheelers, personal four-wheelers and public transport buses would be eligible for the subsidies. For most categories, the subsidies will total up to 10 percent of the base price of the vehicle. In case of commercial EVs including eletric three-wheelers, transport four-wheelers, electric auto, and e-rickshaws, among others, the incentive will be extended up to 15 percent. The aim of such financial incentives is,-to create demand, promote adoption from private to commercial, and slowly but steadily accelerate the transition away from internal combustion engine powered vehicles to cleaner electric alternatives.

Yet one of the most positive aspects of the policy is its emphasis on developing the infrastructure for EVs, especially charging stations. The government aims at establishing EV charging centers in every 25 kilometers on the state and national highways. This will help to solve one of the most cited concerns of electric vehicle owners—range anxiety—and will help make sure that EV drivers in the state always have somewhere to plug in.

As a measure to encourage electric mobility, especially for long haul- driving and public transportation, the toll for electric four wheelers, electric passenger cars will be even exempted for the toll tax on multiple of Maharashtra’s prominent motorways. This also includes the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, the Atal Setu and the Samruddhi Mahamarg. This discount will also be extended for 50% reducton toll in other highways maintained by PWD. The move is also expected to save electric vehicle owners travel costs, besides encouraging the use of electric buses in public transport and helping the state achieve its clean mobility target, according to officials.

Along with the EV policy, the government of Maharashtra has also signed off on a all-round Aggregator Policy aimed at those in the app-based transport business — cab and bike-taxi operators. This is the first such policy in the state, and follows Supreme Court guidelines for better regulation and safety in the app-based ride hailing industry. Under the new policy, aggregators will have to adhere to all IT Act guidelines, which include real-time GPS tracking, providing options for contacting emergency services from within the application and a background check of the driver. They are also planning to introduce compulsory training programs for drivers to enhance safety and levels of service.

Central to the policy is the emphasis on ensuring the safety of women. Special settings will be available for women passengers such that they will travel only with women drivers or co-passengers while taking the ride-pooling service, the release added. One method to achieve this safety-first philosophy in the larger context of creating more inclusive and safer public mobility, particularly for some of our more vulnerable demographics.

The government also intends to create a mechanism to address grievance specifically catering to the drivers and passengers. This initiative aims to address concerns more effectively and provide transparency in the ecosystem. The modalities and process of implementation of the Aggregator Policy will be notified separately by the respective departments.

“Both are holistic policy initiatives initiated by the Maharashtra government to accelerate sustainable and technology-led transport,” Kharola told ET. By bringing together environmental concerns with the safety and availability of commuting options, the state is adopting an integrated approach to transform its city and inter-city transportation environment. These steps should help reduce pollution, of course, but also update public and private transportation in ways that make life better for residents and employers.

Article By
Sourabh Gupta