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We know that the Tata Avinya project is making rapid progress. Recently, a video surfaced online showing a large electric SUV which it called the production form of Tata Avinya X. There were reasons to believe this claim. However, the vehicle shown in the video is NOT the production-spec Avinya. It is a Chery Exlantix ET, sold as the Exeed Sterra ET in China. JSW Motors is reportedly testing it here, and plans to launch it in India as a rival to luxury electric SUVs including some of the Avinya models. Here’s a more detailed look at the camouflaged mule.

The test mule here, has heavy camouflage on it. Almost all key design details of the vehicle are hidden. We can, however, see just how big it is. The video claims it to be the Tata Avinya X. However, there are enough reasons to disbelieve this claim.

First, the sheer size of this electric SUV. It looks larger than the concept shown at Bharat Mobility Expo last year. Next, it comes with a roofline that is more upright at the rear. The Avinya X show car, on the other hand, had a sloping coupe-like roofline and unique, more dramatic rear styling.

Despite the camouflage, some key design elements are visible. The front appears to have a clean, closed-off design- typical of electric vehicles. Vertically stacked lighting elements can be seen, as well. Portions of a slim full-width LED light bar are also visible. We can also see the massive alloy wheels, body cladding, and flush-type door handles as well.

Now, look at this image. This is the Chery Exlantix ET. It is sold under Exeed, Chery’s high-end brand in China. Both EV and EREV (range-extender) versions are available there. It is unclear which of these is being tested here. It is more likely to be the EV version. In China, both rear wheel drive and 4 wheel drive versions are available. Battery sizes there, range from 66kWh to 97.6kWh.

The test mule shows its size. It has a long wheelbase (3000mm) and a short front overhang. The rear overhang is longer in comparison. These proportions hint at the cabin being spacious, luxurious and comfortable.

Although covered with the camouflage, the test mule sighting suggests that this electric SUV will have minimal design changes from the global model.

The Exlantix ET will be part of JSW’s massive product onslaught planned for the next few years. The company plans to launch 15 products in the next 4 years. This EV will be one of them. We already know two of them- iCaur V23 and Jaecoo J5.

Firstly, the Tata Avinya will not be a standalone model, but a family of EVs. There will be electric SUVs and other big EVs in it. From what is known so far, these will be sold through a separate, premium retailer network. At least five models are known to be under development, internally codenamed P1, P2, P3, P4 and P5. The first of these is expected to launch in 2027.

The Avinya’s interior is not shown in this video. However, it is likely to have a premium design and a long line of features. These expectations are based on a patent filed by Tata Motors in June. It showed the Avinya’s Instrument Panel (IP) design (in other words, dashboard design). It looked futuristic. The design of most of the components look fresh and modern. There will likely be a generous use of soft touch surfaces and premium trims.

The Avinya range was originally expected to be based on Jaguar Land Rover’s EMA platform. Later however, it was decided to use the Freelander platform developed by Chery-JLR (CJLR) as the Avinya’s base. Called the iMAX, this platform is expected to bring significant cost benefits. Tata’s leadership has already confirmed that the Avinya range will be heavily localised. Tata Motors teams will handle the design, engineering, software integration and other key functions. The EV family will be manufactured at Tata Motors’ new plant in Tamil Nadu’s Panapakkam.

The battery specifications of the Avinya SUV haven’t yet been confirmed officially. Sources suggest that it could come with battery packs between 65 kWh and 80 kWh. This setup is likely to deliver strong driving range and performance, although the exact claimed figures are yet to surface.

Tata Motors now has an unbeatable presence in India’s EV space. The company has the widest range of mass-market products on sale. At the time of writing, all of its models except the Safari has all-electric counterparts. The Safari is likely to get one sometime around the festive eason.

Tata’s cumulative EV sales are now close to 15,000 units per month. Models like the Tiago.EV, Punch.EV, Nexon.EV and Harrier.EV are driving the growth. The recently-launched Sierra.EV is expected to join the ‘hot-seller club’ soon.

The carmaker, however, lacks a presence in the luxury EV space. The Avinya family is set to address the same. It will compete with expensive models like the Hyundai IONIQ 5, Kia EV6 and more.