HC Stays Delhi Govt’s Order Delisting Tata Nexon EV From Subsidy Scheme
However, the court has also granted time to the Delhi government to file a counter affidavit in the matter.
The Delhi High Court has granted Tata Motors some relief in the Nexon EV case by directing a stay against the Delhi government’s decision to delist the car from its subsidy scheme.
Earlier this month, the Delhi government announced that it has excluded the electric compact SUV from its subsidy scheme that was rolled out to promote EV adoption in the national capital.
This move came about after a consumer complained that the EV did not deliver the promised range of 312 km on a single charge.
Tata took the matter to court and has received the order in its favour, for now, since the Delhi government has been granted time to file a counter affidavit. A spokesperson for Tata Motors said,
“The Honourable Delhi High Court has issued notice on our writ and granted interim relief by directing a stay against the delisting of Nexon EV from Delhi Government’s eligible list of vehicles. The Honourable High Court has granted time to the Delhi Government to file counter affidavit in the matter.”
This development pertaining to the Tata Nexon EV case should take some pressure off of Tata Motors, for the issue was very much rushed to say the least.
The Nexon EV’s claimed range of 312 km on a single charge was publicised based on the certification received from the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) that tests all vehicles, be it ones with internal combustion engines (ICE) or electric motors, that are put on sale in India.
Moreover, for EVs, ARAI only cites the city range and not the range of the combined cycle. Unlike petrol or diesel-powered vehicles, EVs perform better inside towns and worse on highways, when it comes to the distance they can cover.
Tata has clarified that as with conventional ICE vehicles, EVs offer varied range based on factors such as a person’s driving style, air-con usage, and the conditions in which they are used.
The carmaker claims range achievement is also a “function of familiarity” and added that customers report improvement in range provided by the Nexon EV within 4-6 weeks of using the car.
Only time will tell if the Delhi government will file a counter affidavit or if it will take a different course of action.
