TVS Motor Company is betting big on its latest electric offering, TVS X, which was launched at a glittering event in Dubai on August 23 evening.
Priced at INR 249,990 (ex-showroom, Bengaluru) the crossover will be sold in both India and a host of global markets across ASEAN, Latin America and Europe. Deliveries will begin in November to coincide with the buoyancy of the festive season. The company intends to have 15 Indian cities covered by the end of this fiscal before spreading its presence overseas.
Sudarshan Venu, Managing Director, said the new offering marked a reflection of TVS and what the brand stood for. From his point of view, the crossover was “unique and different” from all vehicles in its category, a clear reference to other premium electric two-wheelers.
“This product will redefine the vision of TVS,” reiterated Venu while driving home the point that it was a path-breaking initiative and truly stood for something aspirational, which would strike the right chord with Gen Z. He was confident that electric would grow as a vital component of TVS Motor’s business, which began with the iQube four years ago and has now seen the launch of TVS X.
“Electric is important to our future and this new product is about our vision,” he added. The underlying message was that this was coming from a high tech manufacturer with a lot of emphasis on in-house development. The TVS X, according to Ralf Speth, Chairman, TVS Motor would “conquer the imagination” of the market since it was setting new benchmarks in innovation and technology.
Setting New Benchmarks
KN Radhakrishnan, Director and CEO, TVS Motor said the occasion could not have been better timed with India basking in the triumphant landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon. TVS X, likewise, would “revolutionise' the company’s electric journey in the coming years. The objective is to clearly catch the imagination of today’s youngsters who are constantly looking for something smart and different in the technology arena.
A senior management executive told Mobility Outlook that this offering would also work wonders in Europe. According to him, young men in Europe do not really go in for scooters since they are not considered macho enough like motorcycles. However, with the TVS X, the messaging is all about technology and aspiration which, in a sense, makes it a comfortable unisex offering for developed markets in the West.
TVS Motor is clearly upbeat about electric and Venu has constantly maintained that the company is committed to embracing the future of mobility. “Clearly, we are passionate about it and, hence, investing in a wide product range and technology to be at the forefront,” he had told this writer in a previous interview.
He had indicated then that the opportunities for electric vehicles were global and that explained why TVS Motor was developing a whole range of products. “You will see more and more exciting products from us which will be sold in India and the world. For India and elsewhere, the objective is to have a wide range of EV options and you will really see this commitment and push from our side across all our existing markets,” Venu had said.
While making clear that the focus on the internal combustion engine (ICE) would continue and see improvements with new products/ features — an area that “we will keep pace with” — the real push would be in electric. “There may be small ups and downs en route but the future is clear for us and we are committed to playing a leading role in this space. You will also see new designs coming in since we have strengthened our design team as well. Products need to be attractive and aspirational to customers by the end of the day,” the TVS Motor MD had reiterated.
Smart Features
According to a press release issued by the company, the new offering is defined by design, performance and connected technology. It is built on a high precision cast aluminium alloy frame and has a ram air cooled motor which allows dynamic cooling for critical parts. The battery unit helps manage the centre of gravity and deliver best-in-class dynamics.
The release adds that at 11 kW of peak power, the TVS X is the most powerful EV in the segment with class leading acceleration of 0- 40 km/h in 2.6 seconds, and a sustained true max speed of 105 km/h. The battery pack delivers 4.44 kWh of installed capacity energy while the battery management system ensures safe operation and prolonged lifespan of the cells.
The cluster, placed atop the forged aluminium handlebar, can also be adjusted for tilt, ensuring the rider always has the best visibility in all riding positions. TVS NavPro, the onboard navigation system built with the next-gen TVS SmartXonnect platform, brings context aware information. Destinations between the mobile app and the vehicle can be seamlessly synced.
(The writer is in Dubai on an invitation from TVS Motor Company)
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