JSW has already announced its intention to enter passenger vehicle manufacturing business, and set up its own automotive vertical, independent of the ongoing strategic partnership with MG Motor India. The carmaker will launch three new products here- all rebadged versions of SUVs sold globally. A plug-in hybrid and two electric SUVs will be sold under the JSW nameplate. Rebadged versions of Jetour T2, Jaecoo J5 and Chery iCar v23 will be brought to India. These will enter segments with high competition and have already been spotted on test.
The first of these models was originally slated to arrive by Diwali this year. However, regulatory hurdles linked to the products’ Chinese origins have temporarily delayed the same. When they go on sale, these SUVs will be assembled at JSW’s upcoming greenfield manufacturing facility in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. There will be a strong focus on localisation.
Jetour T2
JSW’s first product for India will be a rebadged version of the Jetour T2 SUV.. When it eventually arrives, the T2 will enter the D-segment and will compete with the Fortuner. It will have a different name and will be sold under JSW branding. The SUV will be shipped in as CKD (completely knocked down) kits and assembled locally.
Globally, the T2 is loved for its rugged, boxy styling and technology-rich interior. These are expected to remain largely unchanged in the India-spec as well. International markets get both five-seater and seven-seater versions of the SUV. It remains to be seen which of these would be brought to India. Speculations point to the seven-seater having greater chances.
The global-spec offers several powertrain options, including a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). Just the PHEV variant (i-DM variant) is likely to be brought to India. It pairs a 1.5-litre petrol engine with two electric motors and a 26.7 kWh battery pack. This setup has a combined system output of 375 hp and 610 Nm. This makes it more powerful than the Fortuner. Both all-wheel drive (AWD) and front-wheel drive layouts are available globally. We hope the company launches the AWD version here.
Chery iCar V23
JSW will also launch the Chery iCar V23 electric SUV in India. It was recently spied testing in Pune. The production version is expected to target lifestyle-oriented electric SUV buyers- the kind that would buy the production form of Thar.e, Vision T and Vision SXT.
The V23 features boxy proportions and has a distinctive design. Higher variants of the global SUV ride on 21-inch wheels, while lower ones get 19-inchers. The V23 will have a tech-heavy cabin. It will get a 15.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system, automatic climate control, powered and ventilated front seats and more.
In international markets, both rear wheel drive (RWD) and All Wheel Drive (AWD) versions are available. The former has 136 hp and 180 Nm on offer, while the latter’s powertrain generates 211 hp and 292 Nm. The RWD version has a 59.93 kWh battery pack with a claimed CLTC range of 401 km per charge. The AWD version has a larger 81.76 kWh battery and offers a range of up to 510 km.
Talking of performance, the RWD version does the 0-100 kph sprint in around 11 seconds while the AWD version takes 7.5 seconds for the same. Both versions have a top speed of 140 kph. The smaller battery supports DC charging speeds of up to 85kW. The larger one can accept up to 104 kW. Time remains before we learn the details of the India-bound model.
Jaecoo J5
Another expected launch from JSW is a badge-engineered version of the Chery Jaecoo J5 electric SUV. When launched, it will rival the Creta Electric, Vinfast VF6 and other mid-size electric SUVs. A camouflaged prototype of this EV has already been spotted testing on Indian roads.
The J5 will be a five-seater, slightly larger than the Creta. It has a minimalist design and comes with slim LED headlamps, connected tail lamps and 19-inch wheels. This too will be a tech-heavy product. The feature-list will include a large 14.8-inch vertically oriented touchscreen, a 540-degree camera system, powered and ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, Level 2 ADAS.
The international spec uses a a 60.9 kWh battery pack and a front-mounted motor that generates 210 hp and 288 Nm, The NEDC range of this battery pack is about 461km per charge. It will support charging speeds of up to 130kW. The electric SUV can do the 0-100kph sprint in around 7.3 seconds.
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