Tata was one of the first OEMs to enter the EV space and currently leads the segment with a market share close to 40%.
Tata recently launched the Punch EV facelift at a starting price of Rs 9.69 lakh. Buyers can also go with the BaaS option, where the price is accessible at just Rs 6.49 lakh. At the launch event, Tata appeared to take a dig at Maruti for using the caption “India Goes Electric” for its first EV, the Evitara. Let’s see the details.
EV battle heats up
Maruti is India’s largest car company by volume. But it is a little late in starting its innings in the EV segment. In CY 2025, around 1.77 lakh electric cars were sold in India by more than a dozen companies. As mentioned earlier, Maruti is not in this list. Sales of Maruti’s first EV Evitara have started recently. So, when Maruti uses the slogan “India Goes Electric”, it may not seem that relevant.
This may not bode well, especially for Tata Motors, which is largely credited with starting the EV revolution in India. It is natural for them to believe that the slogan “India Goes Electric” applies more to their efforts in the EV sector. The launch of the new Punch EV provided the perfect platform to set the record straight. This is where Tata decided to tease Maruti with the slogan – “India has already gone electric”.
To further emphasize the key message, Tata also displayed two maps side by side, showing the progress in EV penetration from 2023 to 2026. The 2026 map shows a major improvement in availability and usage across the country.
This shows the strong growth of the EV segment and how Tata Motors is moving forward. In CY 2025, Tata EV sales were expected to exceed 70,000 units, with a market share of around 40%. Other major contributors in calendar year 2025 include JSW MG Motor (29.06%) and Mahindra (18.95%).
Maruti cannot be underestimated
While Tata’s dig at Maruti seems understandable and data-backed, it would be unwise to ignore the strengths of India’s largest carmaker. Maruti had earlier said that they are working on a long-term strategy for the EV segment. This includes the launch of world-class products that can generate volumes in both domestic and international markets.
Maruti Evitara is already exported to more than 29 countries including Europe. A good demand is also expected from the domestic market. The same applies to the Toyota Abella, which is a rebadged version of the Evitara. Abella will be manufactured by Maruti and supplied to Toyota.
Apart from the Evitara, Maruti plans to launch several new EVs by 2030. These include an electric MPV (codenamed YMC), a small electric hatchback (EWX) and an electric version of the FrontX SUV. With its manufacturing capacity and vast dealer network, Maruti has the potential to emerge as a powerful force in the EV sector.