Tata Safari.EV To Challenge Mahindra XEV 9s: To Get 80 kWh Battery Pack
It has already come to light that Tata Motors is working on an all-electric version of the Safari SUV. Latest reports suggest that the Safari.EV will launch in India around the festive season of this year. It will then become the Indian carmaker’s flagship EV and will likely be priced in the ballpark of Rs 22.5 lakh-30 lakh. More interestingly, it will be Tata’s first-ever three-row EV.
The Safari.EV’s design will remain largely identical to that of its internal combustion engine (ICE) counterpart. The silhouette and several body panels are expected to be shared between the two. The electric version will, however, have EV-specific styling tweaks like a closed-off front grille, redesigned bumpers, EV badges, and aero-optimised alloy wheels. Dimensionally, the EV is expected to stay unchanged. It will thus have an imposing stance and a strong road presence as well.
Even inside, the Safari.EV is expected to retain the layout and design of the ICE model. It could, however, use a different colour palette and more upmarket trims. The Safari.EV will be underpinned by the Harrier EV’s Acti.EV+ platform. It will thus have the carmaker’s TiDAL (Tata Intelligent Digital Architecture Layer) electrical and electronic architecture.
On the Harrier.EV, the TiDAL enables advanced features like over the air (OTA) updates, 540-degree surround view camera, better-optimized ADAS (level 2) features, auto park assist, low-speed cruise control for better off-roading, in-car payment system based on UPI, and the ‘Summon mode’ which made big headlines at launch. These features are all expected to be present on the Safari.EV as well.
Internally codenamed ‘Tayrona’, the Safari.EV will be underpinned by the Acti.EV+ platform. This is a modular and scalable architecture. Interestingly, the ICE versions of Harrier and Safari are also underpinned by the same platform- Omega Arc.
Circling back, the Acti.EV+ is not a born electric platform. Choosing it instead of developing a skateboard ground up has helped in accelerating development timelines and in controlling costs. From what we have seen on the Harrier.EV, the Acti.EV+ is very sophisticated and capable.
We lack clarity when it comes to battery packs. There are reports of Tata Motors developing an 80kWh battery pack for the Safari.EV. Sounds sensible considering the Safari.EV is a much larger car. The Harrier.EV, on the other hand, comes with 65kWh and 75 kWh units. It remains to be seen if the new e-SUV would borrow these or will come with the 80 kWh unit alone.
On the Harrier.EV, the 65kWh battery has a claimed range of 538km per charge. The larger unit, however, is claimed to deliver 627km in the Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) configuration and 622km in All Wheel Drive (AWD) configuration. Range figures may be slightly lower on the three-row EV, if it uses these packs.
The Safari.EV is also expected to come with both RWD and AWD configurations. The dual-motor-based AWD, which Tata calls Quad Wheel Drive (QWD) is in good demand among Harrier.EV buyers. We expect it to be offered on the upcoming Sierra.EV as well. Even on the flagship Safari.EV, it will have a lot of takers.
Like the Harrier.EV, the all-electric Safari is also likely to be a capable off-roader and will offer selectable terrain modes. It will also come with a multi-link rear suspension paired with frequency-dependent dampers.
Tata Motors is expected to begin production of the Safari.EV by August 2026, with a market launch planned around the festive season. Extensive component and technology sharing with the Harrier.EV has enabled a faster development cycle. When launched, the Safari.EV will compete primarily with the Mahindra XEV 9S that was launched in November last year.
The Tata will, however, have a notable edge over the 9S. The XEV 9S is only available with a Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) configuration. It misses out on AWD. The Safari.EV, on the other hand, will offer the same on higher trims.
If the 80kWh battery pack materialises, the Safari.EV will also have a slight advantage in terms of battery size as the XEV 9S is available with 59kWh, 70 kWh and 79 kWh units. And finally, from what we know yet, the Safari.EV is likely to offer slightly better space and comfort in the third row, than the Mahindra.
The electric three-row SUV segment continues to remain largely untapped, and having a presence there will, in the long run, benefit Tata Motors.
Also, with the Safari.EV rolling out, all Tata cars and SUVs will be available in ICE and EV versions. The new e-SUV is expected to contribute an additional 1000 to 1500 units in monthly sales.
This will also become the second major powertrain update for the Safari nameplate in 2026. The SUV had got a petrol engine option earlier this year.