CHENNAI: Tata Motors took a step forward to crack open the lucrative Indian car market on Thursday with the launch of its first compact SUV— the Tata Nexon.
Priced at Rs 5.85 lakh to Rs 9.45 lakh ex-showroom New Delhi, the car is Tata’s challenge to the already entrenched Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza and Ford EcoSport. However, Tata Motors is likely to focus on how it performs in the compact SUV segment.
It is priced around Rs 40,000 lower than the Brezza and around Rs 1 lakh lower than the EcoSport, but boasts of a list of utlities including a floating touch screen and rear air vents. This is in line with Tata’s ‘Impact Design’ philosophy that it utilised in the Tiago, Tigor and Hexa.
“With Nexon, we expect to come within the larger consideration set of buyers,” said Mayank Pareek, president (passenger vehicle business unit).
While the Tiago has become one of the segment leaders, the Tigor and Hexa haven’t fired as well.
According to experts, this could be a ‘make or break’ product for Tata’s short-medium term strategy. “This is a high growth segment they are entering almost two years late. It already has a successful competitor in the Brezza. Whether it can oust its competitor will depend on how consumers see its extra features and different design ethic,” said a Mumbai-based auto analyst.
The Nexon offers a 1.5-litre Revotorq Diesel engine and a 1.2-litre petrol engine.