Tata EVs make Africa debut in Mauritius

From the newsletter

India’s largest car manufacturer Tata Motors has introduced its electric vehicles to Africa for the first time. The company started selling three models (the Tiago.ev, Punch.ev and Nexon.ev) in Mauritius, the Indian Ocean island nation. The vehicles are distributed by Allied Motors, marking Tata’s first expansion of its EV portfolio beyond South Asia.   

• The company dominates EV sales in India with a 73% market share. While Mauritius is its first expansion destination, mainland Africa is likely next, given growing EV demand. 

• With a population of just 1.26 million people, Mauritius is one of the smallest markets in Africa. And one of the wealthiest. Its citizens can afford Tata EVs starting at $10,000. Besides Tata, Mauritius has also attracted KIA and other EV manufacturers recently.

More details

• The Tiago.ev features multi-mode regenerative braking, city and sport drive modes, and a 24 kWh battery offering a range of 190-210 km. The Punch.ev, a compact SUV, includes a 35 kWh battery with a 270-290 km range, while the Nexon.ev provides a range of 350-375 km with its 45 kWh battery.

• The three are part of Tata’s five EV models, all of which were introduced between 2020 and 2024. The others are Curvv.ev and Tigor.ev. “We are thrilled to introduce our electric vehicle portfolio in Mauritius, marking our first international expansion beyond the SAARC region,” said Yash Khandelwal, Head International Business, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd.

• Allied Motors has not yet revealed what the EVs will cost, but in India, Tata sells the Nexon.ev for $14,598, the Tiago.ev for $9,338 and Punch.ev for $11,676. Accounting for shipping costs, taxes and margins, the cost of these EVs could reach more than $20,000 in Africa. However, they would still be some of the lowest EV prices on the continent, which could boost their popularity. 

• Mauritius has been steadily moving toward green energy solutions in recent years. The island nation has been implementing policies to reduce carbon emissions, particularly in the transportation sector. The government has been incentivizing the adoption of EVs through tax benefits and infrastructure development.  

• Should Tata decide to expand to mainland Africa, this would make competition in the EV market stiffer especially in the low price vehicles segment. China’s BYD, the world’s second largest EV manufacturer, has been rapidly expanding its network of dealerships across Africa. Other EV manufacturers such as Xpeng, Geely, and Stellantis, among others, have set their eyes on Africa as demand for EVs in the main markets such as Europe and the US hits turbulence. 

• This comes at a time when EV adoption is gaining momentum in countries like South Africa, Kenya, Morocco, and Egypt, where governments and private sectors are actively promoting electric mobility. For example, Cape Verde, another island nation, has set ambitious targets for 100% electrification of new passenger cars by 2035. 

Our take

• Tata Motors is likely using Mauritius as a pilot market to gauge consumer response and refine its approach before expanding to larger African markets. The wealth and infrastructure in Mauritius make it an ideal starting point to test their EV models and strategies.

• Success in Mauritius could lead to Tata Motors targeting mainland African countries, particularly those with emerging EV markets like South Africa, Kenya, or Egypt. These markets have growing middle classes and increasing government support for sustainable mobility.

• Tata’s affordability and reputation in the EV space could accelerate adoption in Africa by offering more accessible options. This might encourage policymakers to further invest in EV-friendly regulations and infrastructure development.