Tata Motors is planning to launch the Nano EV soon. Tata Motors, as well as another Indian company, Jayem Automotives, will manufacture the model. The hatchback will be available only as a fleet car, and Uber’s competitor Ola Cabs will procure these cars for use as taxi.
Tata Motors will only supply empty Nano body shells to Jayem Automotives, which would then fit the electric power train and other equipment to the car’s body before rolling it out. The powertrain would be supplied by a third company, Electra EV. The Nano EV is likely to have a 48V electric system and a range of 200 kilometers per charge.
Ola will reportedly purchase 400 of these Nano EV and deploy them in the Indian capital city of Delhi by the end of 2017. The news comes just days after Tata’s competitor Mahindra & Mahindra announced a similar deal with Uber to launch the Mahindra e2o plus hatchback and eVerito sedan as taxis in Hyderabad and Delhi.