Global electric vehicle (EV) momentum surged in 2024, with EVs accounting for nearly 20% of all light-duty vehicle sales—an all-time high. This growth, underpinned by back-to-back annual sales increases of over 25%, reflects a broader shift toward zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) and a transformative era for the automotive industry. The third edition of the International Council on Clean Transportation’s (ICCT) Global Automaker Rating report tracks this transition among the 21 largest automakers by evaluating their ZEV strategy, performance, and market presence across 10 key metrics.
In this landscape of rapid innovation and intensifying competition, Tata Motors has emerged as a standout story. Marking a significant milestone, Tata became the first automaker to move from the “Laggard” to the “Transitioner” category—a testament to its growing ambition in electric mobility and its evolving capabilities in both product and process.
Key Drivers Behind Tata’s Rise
Tata Motors’ climb up the ZEV rankings was driven by a more diversified EV portfolio, expanded battery recycling efforts, and deeper integration across value chains through both Tata Motors and its subsidiary, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR). In 2024, the company introduced new battery electric vehicle (BEV) models, enhancing customer choice and reinforcing its long-term commitment to the electrification of its fleet. At the same time, its investments in circularity—particularly in battery reuse and repurposing—demonstrated real-world execution, not just headline-grabbing announcements.
While Tata’s overall ZEV strategic targets slightly regressed in 2024—a trend also observed in other legacy OEMs—its progress in operational metrics such as model diversification, charging performance, and manufacturing sustainability placed it ahead of rivals like Hyundai-Kia, which fell into the Laggard group this year due to stagnating performance and lack of visibility in battery ecosystem developments.
Global Context: China’s Surge, Legacy OEMs Under Pressure
While Tata’s progress is notable, the report highlights China’s unrelenting advance in the ZEV space. Automakers such as BYD, Geely, and Chery not only dominated in EV sales volumes but also demonstrated depth in model variety and performance. BYD surpassed Tesla in BEV sales for the first time in 2024, and Geely and Chery showed the most year-over-year improvement in score, thanks to expanded high-performance lineups and broader geographic reach.
In contrast, several Japanese and Korean automakers continued to lag in both ambition and execution. Despite modest gains by Honda and Nissan—driven by the launch of new BEV models—their progress remained relatively slow. Meanwhile, Hyundai-Kia, once on the cusp of breaking out of the Laggard bracket, dropped further behind due to limited progress on critical areas like battery recycling and manufacturing transparency.
Decoding the Metrics: Where Tata Gained
The ICCT’s evaluation framework groups its metrics into three pillars—market dominance, technology performance, and strategic vision. Tata Motors gained traction in the first two pillars, particularly in:
- ZEV Model Coverage: By offering a wider range of EV options, Tata positioned itself as one of only four automakers to further diversify its ZEV portfolio in 2024.
- Battery Circularity: Tangible progress in battery recycling and reuse, including through JLR, pushed Tata ahead of many rivals who had only declared intent.
- Vehicle Performance: Improvements in range and charging efficiency helped Tata narrow the gap with global leaders.
However, Tata’s slip in the “strategic vision” pillar—especially the rollback of formal ZEV targets—moderated its overall score gains. While this retreat was not unique to Tata, it suggests a need for the automaker to reassert its long-term electrification roadmap to remain competitive against more ambitious peers.
Industry-Wide Gaps, Future Signals
A central theme of the report is that execution, not vision, is the real bottleneck. Many legacy OEMs are simultaneously managing internal combustion engine (ICE) and EV portfolios without adequately scaling internal resources, creating delays and inefficiencies. While companies like Tata are starting to address these challenges through clearer ZEV model development and battery lifecycle strategies, the absence of substantial new ZEV investments in 2024 across most automakers highlights a broader industry inertia.
Only a handful of OEMs—namely Tesla, BYD, Geely, and SAIC—have already met or exceeded EV fleet averages aligned with regulatory targets. Automakers’ public support (or resistance) to EV-related policies, such as fleet average CO₂ targets or incentives, has become a secondary lens to evaluate their seriousness about transition.
Tata’s Inflection Point
Tata Motors’ climb from the bottom tier to the “Transitioner” class marks a critical inflection point. While it still trails the most aggressive ZEV players in volume and global scale, its gains in product execution, manufacturing sustainability, and battery strategy highlight the company’s growing maturity as an EV manufacturer.
To sustain this momentum and further elevate its global standing, Tata Motors will need to reaffirm its long-term ZEV commitments, continue scaling production, and invest more visibly in the next wave of EV innovation—from software-defined vehicles to green supply chains.
The road ahead remains challenging, but Tata’s performance in 2024 suggests it is no longer just trying to catch up—it is learning to lead.
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