Tata eMO Electric Small Car Concept

Tata Technologies, which showcased the eMO electric car concept at the 2012 Detroit Motor Show, is currently in partnership with Dassault Systems to build an electric car that will be priced under $20,000. The main aim of this electric car will be to seat 4 adults in a compact form factor with the price being pegged at under $20,000. The car which was showcased at Detroit featured innovative interiors with foldable rear seats that will liberate a large amount of luggage space. The car also comes with innovative packaging to maximize space on the interiors.

Tata eMO Electric Small Car Concept

However, the details about the electric motor and the power it will make remains a closely guarded secret for now. Considering that the car will be an all-electric unit that will seat four adults in the smallest possible footprint, we anticipate the car to be built mainly for city commuting rather than highway runs. While Tata Technologies has also been tightlipped about the name of the electric car that it intends to build and price under $20,000, by the looks of it, it seems like the eMO will be the car that will see production. That said, the exact time frame of the car going into production remains unknown at the moment.

Tata eMO Electric Small Car Concept at the 2012 Detroit Motor Show

Also, expect the Tata eMO to feature lithium ion batteries to keep weight low with a plug-in option. New age materials and connectivity options on the car’s interiors are also expected in Tata’s all electric hatchback. Coming to the pricing of the electric car being pegged at $20,ooo, if indeed Tata manages to achieve this price point for this car, the eMO could be the world’s least priced all-electric car, undercutting the Nissan Leaf by over $ 10,000. Also, if the Tata electric car is launched in the US market, it could also get a rebate of $7,500 that the US government doles out to electric cars.

Tata eMO Electric Small Car Concept Rear

If that happens, the eMO could be available for about $12,500, which will make it a Nano in the electric car world and Tata has been no stranger to low cost cars. However, the success that Tata Motors has seen in selling the ultra low cost Nano has been limited to say the least, with the car failing to achieve the huge amount of success that the car maker originally envisaged for it. So, caution would be the byword with the Tata eMO all electric hatchback, which could be a global product aimed at both the developed as well as the developing world.


Courtesy: TheEconomicTimes