Report: Tata Motors to launch 2 EVs in Europe by March of 2011

The Hindu Business Line is reporting that Tata Motors is expected to launch two electric vehicles (EVs) in select European countries by March of 2011. The company's vice chairman, Ravi Kant, told the publication that the EVs scheduled for launch include battery-powered variants of the Indica Vista hatchback and its Ace, a light-duty commercial mini-truck. The EVs will appear first in the UK, followed by an introduction in Scandinavian nations (Norway, Denmark and Sweden) at a later date. Tata Motors insists that both vehicles are at an advanced stage of development and will be ready for launch soon, which sounds eerily familiar to something we've heard before.

The company choose the UK as the initial debut site due to its substantial EV infrastructure and strong incentives that should boost sales. Tata Motors' commercial vehicles division president, Ravi Pisharody, notes that the company does not intend to launch the EVs in its home market of India due to its lack of a supporting infrastructure, saying:

The network of charging stations is practically absent in India. We cannot have electric vehicles without Government support, especially for setting up stations.

Though Tata Motors has indicated that battery-powered versions of its Indica and Ace are coming soon, it did not suggest any timeframe for the possible launch of the electric Nano, a vehicle which could be U.S. bound at some point.

[Source: Hindu Business Line via Green Car Advisor]