Tata Tigor EV price reduced by Rs 80,000

Tata Motors has announced that prices for the all-electric Tigor have reduced by Rs 80,000 thanks to the recent cut in GST for electric vehicles. The Tigor EV is now available in three variants – XE, XM and XT – priced between Rs 11.58 lakh and Rs 11.92 lakh.

These prices, however, do not include TCS (a 1 percent tax levied on cars that cost above Rs 10 lakh) or the Indian government’s FAME II scheme that provides subsidies of about Rs 1.62 lakh for the all-electric compact sedan. With the subsidy but not including TCS, prices would reduce to Rs 9.96 lakh for the base variant and Rs 10.30 lakh for the top-spec Tigor EV XT.

Tata Tigor EV price range (ex-showroom, Mumbai)
	Old prices	New prices
Without FAME II subsidies	Rs 12.35-12.71 lakh	Rs 11.58-11.92 lakh
With FAME II subsidies	Rs 10.99-11.09 lakh	Rs 9.96-10.30 lakh

Still only available for public transport, government officials (via EESL) and other commercial usage, the Tata Tigor EV was previously available in two variants – XM and XT – that were priced Rs 12.35 lakh and Rs 12.71 lakh, respectively. The Tiago EV XM and Tigor EV XT can only be differentiated by the level of kit on offer – the former misses out on 14-inch alloy wheels (instead of steel wheels) and power-adjustable wing mirrors, but comes with body-coloured bumpers and door handles, LED tail-lamps, a climate control unit, driver’s seat height-adjust, power windows and a Harman-sourced 2-DIN audio system with Bluetooth, USB and AUX. All variants, including the base XE, get safety kit such as dual front airbags, ABS with EBD and rear parking sensors.

The Tigor EV comes with a 16.2kWh battery pack that powers a 72V, 3-phase AC induction motor making 30kW (41hp) at 4,500rpm and 105Nm of torque at 2,500rpm. Tata claims a 142km range on a single charge, though our exclusive review showed that it could do about 100km before needing to be plugged in. The battery pack can be charged up to 80 percent in 6 hours via a standard AC wall socket, though a DC 15kW fast charger is capable of doing the same in a claimed 90min.

A three-year/1.25 lakh kilometre warranty is offered as standard with the Tata Tigor EV and battery.

All prices are ex-showroom, Mumbai

Also see:

Tata Tigor EV review, test drive

Blog: Hall of FAME

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Royal Enfield to launch a more affordable motorcycle soon

These have been difficult times for the entire auto industry, but Royal Enfield is really feeling the burn. In the quarterly financial results released by Eicher today, it was revealed that Royal Enfield sales have dropped by a whole 19 percent in Q1 FY 2018-2019, compared with the same period last year. Royal Enfield is a huge part of the Eicher group, and this dip has certainly contributed to group’s 7 percent drop in overall revenue over the same period.

While commenting on Royal Enfield’s quarterly performance, Vinod Dasari, the company’s newly appointed CEO, has been quoted as saying, “We will also be introducing new motorcycle variants in the coming months to widen our offering and provide greater accessibility to our discerning customers.” 

Sources lead us to believe that the upcoming variant that Dasari is referring to will become the most affordable motorcycle in the company’s present line-up. This bike will not use the new-gen platform that has been spied on test on numerous occasions, but will instead be based on the existing Bullet platform. Royal Enfield’s most affordable models at the moment is the Bullet 350 that costs Rs 1.21 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). If you want your Bullet with the option of an electric start, you’ll have to shell out Rs 1.35 lakh for the Bullet 350 ES. 

This new variant will be based on the Bullet 350, both kick and electric start. It will be visually distinguished by a simpler fuel tank badge and a black treatment for the engine and other areas like the indicators, etc., replacing most of the chrome seen on the Bullet. We expect that the mechanicals will remain untouched and that the bike will continue to be sold with spoked wheels and tubed tyres to help keep costs down. Royal Enfield may also make use of brighter colours on this new variant, something that has been well received on the Thunderbird X. The same treatment may also be given to the 500cc models. 

Just how low Royal Enfield wants to price this bike needs to be established, but we could be looking at something around the Rs 1.1 lakh mark. If so, the entry level Bullet will enter the price ballpark of 200cc motorcycles like the Bajaj Pulsar NS200 and the TVS Apache RTR 200 4V. Royal Enfield is likely to launch this new variant in a month or two, and the lower pricing should create a much-needed sales push before the highly anticipated next-gen single-cylinder models arrive. 

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Yamaha YZF R15 V3.0, FZ25, Cygnus Ray launched in Monster Energy MotoGP colours

As part of its ‘Call of the Blue 2.0’ campaign, Yamaha has launched the Yamaha YZF R15 V3.0, FZ25 and Cygnus Ray in a limited-edition Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP colours. The two-wheelers with the special colour schemes cost a bit more than the standard shades. The R15 is priced at Rs 1,42,780, which is Rs 500 more than the Darknight scheme and Rs 2,500 more than the standard colours. The Monster Energy scheme costs Rs 2,500 more on the FZ-25 as well, at Rs 1,36,680. On the Ray ZR, the colour costs Rs 59,028, which is Rs 500 more than the Darknight scheme and Rs 1,500 more than the standard shades. The extra money will also get customers a complimentary Monster Energy-branded T-shirt.

This isn’t the first time the R15 V3.0 gets a MotoGP edition, as Yamaha launched one last August as well. However, this year’s model looks considerably different, considering that Monster Energy became the title sponsor for the Yamaha MotoGP team at the start of this season. The colour scheme features a black and blue base with Monster Energy branding graphics on the side panels and front fairing. Mechanically, all three vehicles remain identical to their respective standard variants. This also happens to be the first time a Yamaha scooter in India wears MotoGP-inspired race graphics. 

Yamaha isn’t the only manufacturer to bring its MotoGP livery onto road-going entry level motorcycles. Earlier last month, Suzuki launched the new Gixxer SF in its MotoGP inspired colours and also revealed that the SF250 will soon be getting the same. 

All prices, ex-showroom, Delhi.

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Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2019: 7 key points

Late last evening, the Rajya Sabha passed the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2019 (MVAB 2019). The three amendments introduced to the bill in the Rajya Sabha will be scrutinised in the Lok Sabha, and if approved, the bill will be sent to the President for final approval. Should the bill be ratified in its current form, it will have far-reaching implications across the full spectrum of road transportation in India. Read on to know how.

1. Fines for traffic offences: To ensure stricter adherence to traffic norms, the MVAB 2019 proposes a multi-fold increase in the quantum of punishment for traffic offences. The government’s view is that the steep fines will act as a deterrent for offenders. Some of the new penalties are listed below -

Section	Description	Old penalty/provision	New proposed penalty/provision
181	Driving without license	Rs 500	Rs 5000
182	Driving despite disqualification	Rs 500	Rs 10,000
183	Over speeding	Rs 400	Rs 1000 (light motor vehicle) Rs 2000 (medium passenger vehicle)
184	Dangerous driving	Rs 1000	Rs 5000
185	Drunken driving	Rs 2000	Rs 10,000
189	Racing	Rs 500	Rs 5000
194A	Overloading		Rs 1000 per extra passenger
194B	No seatbelt	Rs 100	Rs 1000
194C	Overloading two-wheeler	Rs 100	Rs 2000; license disqualification for 3 months
194D	No helmet	Rs 100	Rs 1000; license disqualification for 3 months
194E	Not providing way to emergency vehicle		Rs 10,000
196	Driving without insurance	Rs 1000	Rs 2000
199	Offences by juveniles		Guardian/vehicle owner deemed guilty - Rs 25,000 with 3 years imprisonment. Vehicle registration cancelled. Juvenile to be tried under JJ Act
210B	Offenses committed by enforcing agencies		Double of applicable penalty

 

The proposal includes a provision that allows the government to increase fines by 10 percent each year.          

2. Protection of good samaritans: As per the proposal, persons who provides emergency medical or non-medical assistance to a road accident victim will be safeguarded from any harassment from law enforcement or medical officials. The aim is to ensure an accident victim can receive requisite assistance and/or access to a medical facility in the crucial ‘golden hour’.
3. Motor Vehicle Accident Fund: The proposal requires the government to constitute a Motor Vehicle Accident Fund that insures all road users in India. The fund will be used for cashless treatment of road accident victims in the golden hour, compensation of persons injured in a hit-and-run accident, and compensation to representatives of a victim killed in a hit-and-run case, among any other compensation prescribed by the government.
4.  Third party insurance: The proposal includes a ten-fold increase in insurance compensation, from Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh, and a simplified claims process. Insurance firms will have to clear claims within a month. The minimum compensation for victims grievously injured in hit-and-run accident will also be upped from Rs 12,500 to Rs 50,000, and for representatives of persons killed in a hit-and-run accident, the compensation will be increased from Rs 25,000 to Rs 2 lakh.
5. Driving license: The bill proposes to make Aadhar Card as a mandatory identity proof for driver licenses. The bill also proposes a ‘computerised’ driving test to guard against fake driving licenses and ill-qualified drivers taking to the roads. However, the finer details of this proposal are awaited. The bill also mentions opening of driver training schools, though again exact details haven’t been spelled out.
6. Vehicle recalls: The Bill allows the government to order a recall if it is deemed that the vehicle in question is a threat to the driver and/or other road users, or is damaging to the environment. As per the bill, manufacturers will be liable to replace the defective vehicle with another vehicle with similar or better specifications, or reimburse buyers the full cost of the vehicle. Further, if a manufacturer fails to comply with vehicle standards it could be fined to the tune of Rs 100 crore, with executives also liable for imprisonment up to one year.
7. Road Safety Board: The Bill proposes the creation of a Road Safety Board that would advise central and state governments on all aspects of road safety. Promotion of new technology will also come under the gambit of the Road Safety Board.

The Bill also proposes changes to the process of vehicle registration with the aim to reduce corruption at the RTO; fining road contractors up to Rs 1 lakh for failing to comply with road standards; establishing new standard for vehicle fitness; and requirement of cab aggregators such as Ola and Uber to be issued licenses and compliance with the IT Act, 2000.

How well the proposals will be implemented and how much a difference will it make to the Indian road-scape remains unknown. The potential for change, however, is undeniably huge.

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Ather 340, 450 prices drop thanks to reduced GST rate

Last week, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council announced a reduction in GST on electric vehicles from the prevailing rate of 12 percent to 5 percent. Thanks to this, the Ather scooters – the 340 and 450 – have seen their prices drop. The Ather 450 now costs Rs 9,000 less at Rs 1.13 lakh in Bengaluru and Rs 1.22 lakh in Chennai. The 340, meanwhile, now costs Rs 1.02 lakh in Bengaluru and Rs 1.10 lakh in Chennai. Essentially, on-road prices have reduced by about Rs 8,000-9,000.

Ather recently began operations in Chennai with deliveries set to begin from September. The company had earlier revealed an ambitious sales target of one lakh units by June 2021 and is working on expanding to multiple cities over the next couple of years. 

The Ather 450 recently received FAME II-certification that reduced its cost by Rs 5,000. The reduced GST rate now makes it, and the 340, considerably more affordable, and much closer to popular 125cc bikes. On the other hand, the Ather 450’s electric rival – the Okinawa i-Praise – currently costs Rs 1.14 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), but it should also see a price cut thanks to the reduced GST.

Ather prices are on-road in the respective cities.

Also see:

2018 Ather 450 review, test ride

Affordable Ather electric scooter in the works

Ather 450 performance tested

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SIAM: Proposed hike in vehicle registration cost will badly hit industry

After nine months of slowdown, the Indian automobile market has a new challenge to contend with. This time it is about the MoRTH-proposed (and massive) hike in new vehicle registration.

Therefore, it is not surprising that the apex industry body Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has expressed serious concern on the recent draft notification issued by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), which proposes an increase in registration charges of new vehicles by 10 to 20 times (depending upon the vehicle category) more than the current costs (see the detailed table below).

Under the proposed rules, new medium-duty goods/passenger vehicles will attract a Rs 20,000 registration fee instead of the current Rs 1,000 (up 1,900 percent). A new truck or a bus will see a fee of Rs 20,000 instead of the current Rs 1,500 (up 1,233 percent). The registration charge for a new two- wheeler is proposed to be Rs 1,000 in place of the current Rs 50 (up 1,900 percent). Similarly, the registration fee for a new car is proposed to be Rs 5,000, up from the current Rs 600 (up 733 percent).

While new vehicle sales are reeling under the downturn, sales of used vehicles will also bear the brunt. In fact, the proposed vehicle renewal registration fees are up a whopping 3,900 percent for motorcycles!

Given that sales of new vehicles have plummeted significantly over the past nine months – the ongoing and unprecedented slowdown that has brought the industry down to its knees – any hike in vehicle registration fees will only serve to deal a body blow to the automobile industry, and in turn to the country, considering in Indian automotive market is a major contributor to the country's manufacturing GDP and overall GDP, alike.

Commenting on the proposed hike, Rajan Wadhera, president, SIAM said, “Such an increase in the registration charges of new vehicles would further aggravate the market condition negatively.”

SIAM has suggested that instead of hiking registration charges for new vehicles, the government of India should first look at implementing the various measures suggested by SIAM to revive growth in the domestic automotive industry.

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