India’s EV race gets a Chinese twist as Tata turns to Chery for premium cars – Firstpost

India’s electric vehicle (EV) race may be heading for a twist, with Tata Motors reportedly in discussions to license a platform from China’s Chery Automobile to accelerate its delayed premium EV ambitions under the Avinya brand.

The proposed arrangement would give India’s largest EV maker access to Chery’s advanced electric vehicle architecture — developed in collaboration with Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) — to underpin a new generation of premium models in India, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

The move signals a recalibration of Tata Motors’ long-term product strategy in a segment where timing and technology are increasingly decisive.

Tata Motors told Reuters it plans to leverage the Freelander platform developed through the Chery–Jaguar Land Rover joint venture in China, with production expected at its newly commissioned facility in Tamil Nadu once the deal is finalised.

CKD route and phased rollout planned for Avinya models

Under the proposal being discussed, Tata Motors is expected to locally manufacture at least two premium EVs under the Avinya nameplate. The first model is targeted for launch in 2027, followed by a second in 2029, with additional variants under consideration, the report said.

Initial units are likely to be imported from China as completely knocked-down (CKD) kits and assembled in India, before progressively increasing localisation of components as part of a phased manufacturing strategy aimed at building domestic supply chain depth.

“Avinya is being developed as a global premium brand. Our collaboration with JLR and its partners will be an important pillar of our global premium EV journey,” Tata Motors said in its statement to Reuters, adding that the arrangement is intended to strengthen its luxury EV portfolio at scale.

The company, however, clarified that the deal is not yet finalised and discussions remain ongoing.

The development marks a notable reset in Tata Motors’ premium EV roadmap. The automaker had originally planned to base its Avinya range on Jaguar Land Rover’s electrified modular architecture (EMA), with a rollout timeline starting around 2025. That plan was later disrupted after JLR shelved its India-based EMA programme, forcing Tata Motors to reassess both its platform strategy and launch schedule.

Bridge strategy amid global EV technology gap

According to the report, the proposed Chery platform could serve as a bridge for Tata Motors, helping it overcome near-term technology and timing constraints while it develops its own dedicated EV architecture for future models.

Chery Automobile, China’s largest vehicle exporter, confirmed to Reuters that discussions are underway and any eventual arrangement would be structured as a supplier relationship governed by separate commercial agreements.

“Each project operates under its own separate agreement with standard commercial terms,” the company said.

The potential collaboration highlights a broader industry trend: increasing reliance on Chinese EV platforms by global automakers, even as India maintains strict scrutiny over direct Chinese investment. Since 2020, New Delhi has tightened rules governing investments from neighbouring countries, effectively limiting large-scale Chinese participation in India’s automotive sector.

Despite these restrictions, Indian manufacturers are increasingly tapping Chinese technology to remain competitive in the fast-evolving EV space.

For Tata Motors, which is India’s leading EV manufacturer, the timing is crucial. Electric vehicles currently account for about 14 per cent of its total sales, with the company targeting a 30 per cent share by 2030. However, delays in its premium EV rollout have allowed competitors to close the gap.

Rivals such as Mahindra & Mahindra and JSW MG Motor India have been steadily expanding their electric portfolios, intensifying competition in the domestic market.

Industry insiders view the proposed Chery platform arrangement as a stop-gap but strategic move, giving Tata Motors access to more advanced EV technology while it builds out its own long-term architecture.

Chery, meanwhile, has been aggressively expanding its global presence through platform-sharing and licensing deals across Europe, Southeast Asia and Latin America, positioning itself as an increasingly influential player in the global EV supply chain.