The Delhi govt has delist the Tata Nexon EV car from its subsidy scheme for EVs following complaints that the model failed to meet the specified range on a single charge.
Buyers of four-wheelers in the personal segment in Delhi can claim an incentive of Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh depending on the vehicle type and speed, as per Delhi govt’s EVs policy. The Nexon EV is the highest selling model in the country.
The order undersigned by Jyoti Seth, the deputy transport commissioner says “The reply furnished by Tata Motors has been found to non-satisfactory” pointing out that several users had complained of ‘sub-standard’ driving range offered by the Nexon electric vehicle (EV).
Reacting to the order a spokesperson from Tata Motors said, “It is unfortunate to receive this order from the Delhi Transport Commission” and the company will continue to engage constructively to protect the interests of its customers.
The Nexon EV at single full charge (312 km) is basis the certification received from the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), which is the official body that independently tests all mass produced vehicles under standard/defined test conditions.
According to the order, the company’s assertion that the range of 312 kilometers is based solely on the test result of Automotive Research Association of India is not sufficient to “displace the basis of the complaint that the vehicle never provided a range more than 200 km. She also pointed out that Tata Motors has not made any effort to verify the complaint of the owner, Rajesh Kumar, by an independent third party.
Jyoti Seth observed that instances like these—the actual performance of the vehicle not matching the manufacturers’ promise/indicated performance will lead to lack of trust in the EV vehicles in general, given that the technology is nascent.
‘The Delhi govt has decided to suspend subsidy on an EV car model, pending the final report of a Committee, due to complaints by multiple users of sub-standard range performance,’ Delhi’s Transport Commissioner, Kailash Gahlot tweeted.
