Tata Motors' Bold Plan: 30 New Cars by 2030 in Rs 35,000 Crore Push

Tata Motors is planning big with 30 new models by 2030, including 7 fresh nameplates and major investment in both EVs and conventional engines. Here's what this means for Indian car buyers

In what could be called its most ambitious product offensive yet, Tata Motors has laid out plans to flood the Indian market with 30 new models by 2030. The homegrown carmaker revealed this strategy during its investor presentation yesterday, catching many industry watchers by surprise with both the scale and scope of its plans.

The company isn't just tweaking its existing lineup – it's going for a major overhaul that includes seven completely new nameplates. This would nearly double Tata's portfolio from the current eight models to a whopping 15 by decade's end.

"This is Tata throwing down the gauntlet," says Vikram Mehta, who's been covering the auto industry for over 15 years. "They're essentially saying they won't be content playing second fiddle to anyone."

SUVs Take Center Stage, But There's More

Anyone who's been stuck in traffic lately knows SUVs are everywhere, and Tata's doubling down on this trend. But they're not stopping there – the company's also eyeing coupes and crossovers, body styles that have been gaining traction among younger buyers looking for something different.

The numbers tell the story: Tata's internal forecasts suggest MPVs could grow by a massive 50% by FY30 compared to current levels, while SUVs might jump by 55%. It's not rocket science to see why they're betting big on these segments.

I spoke with Rahul Sharma, who runs an automotive consultancy in Mumbai. "Look at what's happening on our roads," he said. "Ten years ago, everyone wanted a small hatchback. Now it's all about commanding road presence and versatility. Tata's reading the room correctly here."

The Sierra SUV will be the first of these new nameplates to hit showrooms. If you're old enough, you might remember the original Sierra from the '90s with its distinctive glass rear. Test mules have already been spotted on Indian roads, heavily camouflaged but unmistakably larger than the current crop of Tata SUVs.

Playing Both Sides of the Powertrain Fence

While many global carmakers are going all-in on electric, Tata's taking a more pragmatic approach. The Avinya range, which we've only seen in concept form so far, will spearhead their EV push. But they're not abandoning conventional engines either.

"In a country where charging infrastructure is still patchy at best, this makes perfect sense," says automotive journalist Priya Nair. "The average Indian buyer still has range anxiety, and Tata knows this all too well."

The company's also teased four more all-new models – two EVs and two with good old internal combustion engines. Details are scarce, but sources suggest they'll cover both ends of the market – from affordable entry-level options to premium offerings.

Money Talks: The Rs 35,000 Crore Push

All this expansion doesn't come cheap. Tata's planning to pump between Rs 33,000-35,000 crore into its passenger vehicle business over the next five years. That's roughly $4 billion being bet on India's growing appetite for cars.

The cash will go toward developing what the industry calls "software-defined vehicles" – basically cars that are as much about their tech features as their engines – and next-gen powertrains.

Tata's shooting for 16% market share by FY27, climbing to 18-20% in the years after. It's an uphill battle, especially with Mahindra making a strong comeback in the SUV space where Tata had been gaining ground.

The EV story is even more telling. Just two years ago, Tata commanded a lion's share of India's nascent electric car market – around 80-85%. Today, that's down to about 55% as players like MG have jumped in with competitive offerings.

Still, Tata's betting that EVs will make up 20% of its sales by FY27, and 30% by FY30. Bold numbers, but not unrealistic given the government's push toward electrification.

The Battle Royal Ahead

Tata's announcement comes hot on the heels of similar aggressive plans from rivals. Hyundai recently unveiled its own strategy to launch 26 new models by 2030. Not to be outdone, Mahindra's planning 9 ICE-powered SUVs and 7 EVs by the same timeframe. Even market leader Maruti Suzuki is expanding from 18 to 27 models.

"We haven't seen this kind of product onslaught in the Indian market before," says industry veteran Rajesh Kumar. "The next five years will be a golden age for Indian car buyers, though manufacturers' margins might take a hit with all this competition."

For us regular folks looking to buy a car in the coming years, this means more choices, better tech, and hopefully, more bang for our buck. As manufacturers try to outdo each other, we might just end up being the real winners in this high-stakes game of automotive one-upmanship.