JSW MG Motor India launches Hector Tomahawk EV and PHEV starting at ₹13.99 lakh

JSW MG Motor India has expanded its Battery-as-a-Service model to larger SUVs with the launch of the Hector Tomahawk EV and plug-in hybrid variants. The new models aim to lower upfront vehicle costs by separating the battery expense into a usage-linked fee.

NEW DELHI: JSW MG Motor India has announced the launch of the Hector Tomahawk EV and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant, extending its battery-rental strategy into the larger SUV segment. The Hector Tomahawk EV is priced at ₹13.99 lakh with Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS), compared to ₹19.49 lakh for an outright purchase. Meanwhile, the plug-in hybrid version is available at ₹21.79 lakh with BaaS, against ₹25.69 lakh without the rental model.

Under the BaaS framework, customers pay a usage-linked fee of ₹4.90 per kilometre for the EV battery and ₹3.20 per kilometre for the PHEV battery. This pricing structure is designed to position the C-segment electric SUV closer to smaller petrol SUVs, while the plug-in hybrid competes directly against diesel automatics.

The launch represents MG's largest expansion of the BaaS formula, which previously helped drive sales for the Windsor EV. MG utilized a similar model for the Windsor, launched at ₹9.99 lakh plus battery rental, which has recorded over 75,000 sales in less than two years. The company subsequently applied the battery-rental approach to the Comet EV and ZS EV before introducing it to the larger Tomahawk range.

Parth Jindal, director at JSW MG Motor India, noted that the BaaS structure enables the company to price larger new-energy vehicles competitively against traditional internal-combustion engines. According to Jindal, the strategy is supported by MG's ADAPT platform, which accommodates multiple powertrain technologies rather than restricting customers to a single option.

The Tomahawk EV features a 69.2-kWh battery offering a claimed range of 517 km on a single charge, with customer deliveries scheduled to begin in September. The PHEV variant pairs a 20.5-kWh battery with a 1.5-litre petrol engine, a dedicated hybrid transmission, and a 148-kW electric motor. MG claims a pure-electric range of over 115 km and a combined range exceeding 1,100 km on a full charge and full tank. The PHEV drivetrain can operate in pure-electric, series-hybrid, parallel-hybrid, and engine-direct-drive modes, accelerating from zero to 100 kmph in approximately nine seconds. Deliveries for the PHEV are expected to commence in November.

Both versions measure 4,745 mm in length, feature a 2,810-mm wheelbase, and offer 230 mm of ground clearance. Standard equipment across the variants includes a 15.6-inch touchscreen, a digital instrument cluster, a panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats, a powered tailgate, a 10-speaker Infinity audio system, and connected-car technology.

For the manufacturer, the rollout serves as a key test of whether the usage-linked battery model can successfully scale up the market to larger vehicle segments, providing buyers with alternatives in pure electric and plug-in hybrid formats.

"The expansion of the Battery-as-a-Service model into larger SUV segments demonstrates how innovative financing and business structures can alter traditional consumer markets. By decoupling the battery cost from the upfront vehicle price, companies can lower entry barriers for new technology. This approach effectively addresses consumer cost hesitation and broadens adoption across different vehicle categories in the Indian market." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes