Tata Motors To Sharpen Focus On CNG, Electric

Shailesh Chandra, MD of Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, tells Murali Gopalan that the company is crystal clear about its objectives in producing cleaner cars and SUVs as part of its effort to keep vehicular emissions in check.

- Murali Gopalan

Terming this decade as one of transition for the Indian automotive industry, Shailesh Chandra believes that it is important to visualise the scenario accurately and then take necessary action to be future-ready.

We are sorted out in our thinking since we always see the destination point and one needs to consider milestones and journeys with certain visibility...the journey will continue beyond that, says the Managing Director of Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility.

Shailesh Chandra believes that it is important to visualise the scenario accurately and take necessary action to be future ready.

The Centre already has a vision statement to achieve 30 percent electrification in the automotive segment by 2030. As a company, we will naturally gravitate towards more electric vehicles (EVS) which means logical actions will follow, he adds.

Tata Motors plans to pursue electrification more aggressively in the coming years to ensure that it is ahead of the curve. In five years, it strives to be 20 percent electric compared to industry's eight percent. We are already at seven percent penetration and will target significantly higher than 30 percent by 2030, says Chandra.

The ICE (internal combustion engine) world will continue to remain the bigger part and the key is to leverage on that opportunity but invest with more eco-friendly technologies. “We are crystal clear on how to move in both worlds, he adds.