Tata Motors is set to license an automotive platform from China’s Chery as it seeks to revive its delayed premium electric vehicle (EV) strategy under the Avinya brand, according to people familiar with the matter.
The move marks a strategic reset in Tata’s high-end EV roadmap and highlights the growing reliance of Indian automakers on Chinese EV technology.
The first Avinya model based on the Chery platform is expected to be launched in 2027, with plans for at least two models initially. The vehicles are likely to be assembled in India using CKD kits sourced from China, with increasing localization over time.
Tata Motors confirmed in a statement that it will leverage the Freelander architecture developed through a Chery–Jaguar Land Rover joint venture, aligning the partnership with its broader premium EV ambitions.
The decision comes after Tata Motors’ original plan to use Jaguar Land Rover’s Electrified Modular Architecture (EMA) for its Avinya range was shelved, delaying its premium EV rollout that was initially targeted for 2025.
With that plan disrupted, the Chery platform is expected to help Tata Motors regain lost time by providing access to advanced EV architecture, software systems, and scalable vehicle platforms, sources said.
The company is simultaneously working on developing its own dedicated EV architecture, but the Chery partnership is seen as a critical bridge solution.
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Electric vehicles currently account for around 14% of Tata Motors’ sales, with the company aiming to raise this share to 30% by 2030. However, competition from players like Mahindra & Mahindra and JSW MG Motor is intensifying, narrowing Tata’s early lead in India’s EV market.
Industry observers note that while Indian automakers are increasing R&D investments, they continue to rely on external platforms due to the speed, cost advantage, and technological depth of Chinese EV systems.
This has led to a broader trend of “technology licensing over equity partnerships”, driven partly by India’s regulatory restrictions on Chinese investment since 2020.
Sources described the Chery agreement as a stop-gap arrangement designed to ensure Tata Motors does not lose momentum in the premium EV segment.
The Avinya program is expected to expand beyond two models, with potential for additional variants by 2029, depending on platform scalability and market response.
Tata Motors said its collaboration with JLR and its partners will remain a key pillar of its global EV strategy, even as it continues to build long-term in-house capabilities.
The deal underscores a shifting reality in India’s automotive sector, where domestic manufacturers are increasingly integrating Chinese EV technology while avoiding deep strategic dependence due to geopolitical sensitivities.
At the same time, Chinese automakers like Chery are expanding their global footprint through licensing and joint manufacturing arrangements across Europe, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
For India, the development highlights both opportunity and challenge — access to advanced EV platforms in the short term, but continued dependence on external technology in a rapidly evolving global EV race.
Tata Motors is one of India’s leading automobile manufacturers and a key player in the global automotive industry. Part of the Tata Group, it produces passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and electric vehicles, with a growing focus on sustainable mobility and EV innovation.
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