It was back in January this year when Tata Motors launched the Nexon EV. The zero-emissions subcompact SUV breached the 1,000 production-mark in August. Considering that India was under a strict lockdown for months and the EV segment is still in its nascent stage, that is quite an achievement. But get this – by November 2020, Tata Motors had sold 2,200 Nexon Evs. That means in a matter of three months, the homegrown automaker sold more units of the said vehicle than it did between January and August.

As a result, Tata Motors claims a 74 per cent market share in the personal EV space. Another takeaway from those impressive figures is that the Nexon EV is the bestselling electric car in the country.

The Nexon EV is available in three variants. Two of out them – the XZ+ and XZ+ Lux – received an upward price revision in October 2020. Prices for both those derivatives increased by Rs 26,000. With the range starting at Rs 13.99 lakh, it doesn’t quite fit in the budget of the masses. To expand the EV’s reach, Tata Motors introduced subscription services for the Nexon EV. Based on the plan chosen, one could lease the car in question at Rs 29,500 per month. And, of course, there’s no added cost on top of that as Tata Motors takes care of everything from maintenance to insurance.

Presently, the Nexon EV is available with just one powertrain. Propelling the front wheels is a single electric motor which produces 127bhp/245Nm, while a one-speed unit handles transmission duties. As per Tata Motors, the Nexon EV can hit 100kmph from nothing in 9.9 seconds. The powerplant gets its juices from a 30.2kWh battery which can help the EV travel up to 312km on a single charge. Using a recommended fast charger, the Nexon EV can replenish its battery from zero to 80 per cent in about an hour. And yes, slower charging options are also available.

As of today, the Nexon EV has no direct rivals. The Hyundai Kona Electric and the MG ZS EV offer better performance but start north of Rs 20 lakh. Expect Mahindra to introduce an all-electric version of the XUV300 next year. That will compete directly with Tata’s flagship EV.