Electric sparks: M&M flags issues with Tata Motors e-car pricing

Pawan Goenka says not sure about selling cars in phase-II

M&M, which is competing with rival Tata Motors Electric Cars in the country’s largest electric car tender, said the company finds it “difficult” to comprehend the latter’s pricing in the tender. Tata Motors quoted a price of Rs 10.16 lakh for its electric Tigor sedan in the tender for 10,000 electric cars when M&M offered to sell its e-Verito at approximately Rs 12 lakh (both prices are exclusive of the goods and services tax).

“This pricing is difficult for us to comprehend given the fact that we have been in the business for more than five years and have good knowledge about the industry,” Pawan Goenka, managing director at M&M, said in a conference call on Thursday.

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Tata Motors emerged as the lowest bidder in the tender and is selling 250 of the order for 400 units in the first phase. EESL, which invited the bids, gave M&M an opportunity to match the price of the electric Tigor, following which the firm would supply 150 units in first phase that ends on November 30. Goenka, however, said they would not make any profit on the order.

Goenka said he was not aware if Tata Motors was able to offer the price based on a volume commitment to its vendors. He drew a distinction between the e-Verito and the electric Tigor. He said the e-Verito was a proper sedan with a bigger length (4.24 metre) against the sub-4 metre length of the Tigor. “Our vehicle has a range of 170-180 km upon full charge, which is more than the specified range of 130 km in the tender,” he said. Read More