Do More With Reuters
Partner Services

India's Tata to launch electric car in Norway in 1 yr

Wed Sep 3, 2008 5:59pm IST
 
Email | Print | | Single Page
[-] Text [+]

NEW DELHI, Sept 3 (Reuters) - India's Tata Motors (TAMO.BO: Quote, Profile, Research) plans to launch an electric version of its Indica hatchback in Norway within a year, and will bring it to the local market at a later stage, its managing director said on Wednesday.

Tata Motors (TTM.N: Quote, Profile, Research), which is also making the Nano, billed as the world's cheapest car, showcased a prototype of the "Indica ev" at an industry conference on Wednesday.

"This is one of the technologies that we are looking at, as you know that electric cars are almost zero emission," Managing Director Ravi Kant said.

Car makers, including Nissan Motor (7201.T: Quote, Profile, Research) and Mitsubishi Motors (7211.T: Quote, Profile, Research), are preparing to roll out electric vehicles in the coming years, amid soaring gasoline prices and stricter emission rules.

U.S. giant General Motors Corp GM.N, meanwhile, is looking to beat Toyota Motor (7203.T: Quote, Profile, Research) to the punch with its all-electric Chevy Volt. GM expects to have a showroom-ready version by this year, according to people familiar with the project.

Last week, Toyota said it would speed up the development of vehicles that run only on electricity with the aim of mass producing them in the early part of the next decade.

Tata Motors' electric car -- with a left-hand drive -- has been developed in collaboration with a Norwegian firm, Kant said.

"Right now we want to test it out in Norway with the Norwegian party. Because, you know, lot of infrastructure is required for electric vehicles and ... in Norway, they are making arrangements for electric cars."

"We will bring that to India at an appropriate time."  Continued...

India Investment Summit 2009
India Investment Summit 2009

Top executives and bankers discuss their own plans and the broader opportunities and challenges for India during the Reuters India Investment Summit in Mumbai and Bangalore.  Full Coverage | Blog 

Hugh Hefner
PLAYBOY SALE
An icon bows to changing times

With his Playboy Enterprises in talks to be sold for about $300 million, the 83 year-old Hugh Hefner will be giving up control over the iconic adult entertainment empire he founded that was instrumental in shaping society's opinions on nudity, sex and free speech.  Full Article 

A man walks past a bronze statue of a bull outside the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) building in Mumbai in this March 25, 2008 file photo. REUTERS/Punit Paranjpe/Files
Bubble trouble?

With India's benchmark stock index, the BSE Sensex, at around 17,000 points, are the Indian equity markets looking at a possible bubble?  Commentary 

Market Update

  • IndiaIndia
  • USUS
  • UKUK
  • Asia
  • Most Actives

SPECIAL REPORT

Himangshu Watts
India's food dilemma

Indian farms are failing to attract capital or talent, either from rich landlords or the students who graduate from agricultural universities.  Full Article | Related Story 

showcase

U.S. Recession
U.S. Recession

A trip through the epicenters of the American recession.  Full Coverage 

 
Central Banks Cautious
Central Banks Cautious

Reuters tracks the policies of the world's top central banks as the debate over global economic recovery rages on.   Full Coverage 

 
T P Raman
Column - RBI leads the world

Reserve Bank of India's approach ring-fenced the banking system.   Full Article 

 
Funding Blues
Funding Blues

A popular tactic used by Indian brokerages to raise money for rich clients is likely to be banned.  Full Article 

 
Not Enough Jobs
Not Enough Jobs

Venture capital creates jobs, but not enough.  Full Article 

 
Column - A Sweet Dream
Column - A Sweet Dream

There are good reasons for Ferrero to consider a combination with Cadbury.  Full Article