Tata Motors ambitious and costly electric Indica Vista project

Tata Indica Vista will in 2009, become the second electric car to be exported from India since the Maini Group started selling its Reva as G-Wiz in Europe about five years ago. Tata Motors will roll it out soon. It is Tata Motors ambitious and costly project as its estimated cost goes to £20-million (Rs. 160 crore). It will begin in Norway and later target it for other Scandinavian markets. The Indica Vista EV has been designed and developed by Tata Motors European Technical Centre.The car will be assembled in Norway from semi-knocked down kits imported from India as an application by Tata Motors has been given to the commerce ministry revealing that. It is confident that the project will turn profitable within four years of start of production.However,there is no plan to introduce the electric variant in India, a Tata Motors official informed. In future, Tata Indica Vista EV could be manufactured in India if sales volumes justify, the company said in its application to the government which also stated that the car will have a top speed of 151 km an hour, maximum power of 55 kw at 4,000 rpm and 190 Nm of torque. While it is believed that Tata Motors had told the UK government that the company won't go ahead with its electric vehicle project without its support, the project seems to be on track. Tata Motors is progressing with the Tata Indica Vista EV project as per plan. The company has said it will introduce the car in Norway this year, a Tata Motors spokesperson said on condition of anonymity. The company is still negotiating with the British government on the electric car project. Running on lithium-ion batteries, the Indica Vista EV will be peppier than its petrol and diesel variants available in India.