(News Trust of India): JSW MG Motor India has launched its latest electric vehicle, the Windsor EV, with a “battery-as-a-service” (BaaS) model priced at ₹9.99 lakh. This innovative offering lowers the upfront cost by allowing customers to lease the battery instead of owning it. However, buyers will need to pay ₹3.5 per kilometre for battery usage, which means a minimum cost of ₹5,250 per month for 1,500 km, regardless of how much they drive. This amount is separate from the vehicle’s charging costs.
The company, backed by SAIC Motor, plans to reveal the full ex-showroom price with the battery on October 3, 2024, when bookings open. Deliveries are set to begin on October 12.
The Windsor EV features a 38-kilowatt-hour battery pack, delivering 100 kW of power and 200 Nm of torque, with a claimed range of 331 km on a full charge.
Parth Jindal, director of JSW MG Motor India, explained the motivation behind the BaaS model. He pointed out that most car sales in India occur in the sub-₹10 lakh segment, and the company aims to increase EV adoption by offering a more affordable option. “We don’t want EVs to be a luxury limited to metro cities. Our goal is to make them accessible in Tier 2, Tier 3, and even Tier 4 cities,” said Jindal.
Jindal compared the cost of owning a ₹9 lakh internal combustion engine (ICE) car versus the Windsor EV. For an ICE vehicle, monthly expenses including fuel and maintenance would add up to approximately ₹38,000. In contrast, the Windsor EV’s running costs under the BaaS scheme, including battery usage and home charging, are estimated to be around ₹36,250 per month. He emphasized that this competitive pricing model is key to making EVs more attractive and accessible to the Indian market.
The Windsor EV is positioned to compete with vehicles in the ₹9-11 lakh price range, with the BaaS model making it a more affordable option for consumers seeking to switch to electric vehicles without the high upfront costs.
