‘India has gone electric’: Tata’s Anand Kulkarni on EV push and Punch EV facelift

Tata Passenger Electric Mobility is reinforcing its electric vehicle strategy, with Chief Products Officer Anand Kulkarni saying India has already begun its shift towards electrification. In an interaction, Kulkarni outlined the company’s plans to expand EV adoption, citing its early-mover position, wider product portfolio and efforts to develop a broader charging ecosystem. He highlighted ongoing investments in technology, improvements in battery performance and cost, and a focus on addressing concerns related to range and ownership.Kulkarni added that the updated Punch EV will play a key role in the entry-level segment, with Tata Motors aiming to grow its presence through better efficiency, added features and competitive positioning, while also benefiting from policy support and increasing consumer awareness. In this article, we take a closer look at what he said about EV adoption, the updated Punch EV and Tata’s broader strategy.Q: Tata Motors said India has already gone electric. Why do you say that, and how confident are you?A: This was a clarification. We’ve been driving electrification for six or seven years. We lead in EVs, whether through a broad product portfolio or unified charging ecosystems. We’ve been successful in pushing EV adoption, so we clarified that India is already on that path.Q: If you had to convince a Punch ICE owner to switch to the Punch EV facelift, what would you say?A: The cost of ownership, capability, and performance should leave no doubt why the EV is the vehicle of choice.Q: How important is the Punch EV facelift for entry-level EV adoption?A: It’s crucial. The Punch, across ICE and EV, sells 19,000–20,000 units monthly. The facelift offers a better range, efficiency, thermal stability, and a stronger battery warranty, which should boost confidence and adoption.Q: How do government incentives and policies influence compact EV demand?A: They’re key. Incentives raise awareness and stimulate growth. Alongside that, we’re improving battery range, capacity, and costs, so both factors work together.Q: Does a bigger battery impact weight or efficiency? How is performance balanced?A: Yes, the battery is heavier, but we reduced the weight of the electric drive unit. The weight balance remains the same.Q: With a bigger battery, how do you prevent the Punch EV from overlapping with the Nexon EV?A: Overlaps can happen across models. If the top Punch overlaps with the base Nexon, it’s fine. It gives customers a choice between features and price.Q: What feedback shaped the Punch EV facelift?A: Journalists loved the refinement, so we kept it. The main feedback was a better range and more features. We improved the battery, e-drive, and added premium touches like new switches, a new front bumper, and wider rear tail-lamps.Q: What real-world range can customers expect from the bigger battery?A: In city driving, around 330-350 km with the 40 kWh battery. On highways, careful driving can push that even higher.Q: Is the improved battery due to better chemistry or just higher capacity?A: It’s higher capacity with improved cells-10% more energy density-and we’ve moved to prismatic cells from cylindrical ones.