Tata is about to do something no other Indian carmaker can. From 2027, its battery arm Agratas will make its own cells and put them inside Tata EVs. Today every Nexon.ev, Punch.ev and Curvv.ev runs on cells bought from outside suppliers. This move is about cost control, supply safety and cutting the China link.
What Agratas is actually building: The cell specs
Agratas has two plants. Somerset in the UK runs at 40GWh, and Sanand in Gujarat at 20GWh (GWh just means how much total battery the plant can make in a year). The Sanand plant will feed Tata cars sold in India. Tata Group Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran has confirmed Tata EVs will use these cells from 2027. And the big news is Agratas won't stick to one battery type. It will make both LFP and NMC cells, giving Tata a choice most rivals don't have.
LFP vs NMC: Which Tata EV gets what
LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) is the tough, cheap, long-life battery. Agratas' LFP cell stores 562Wh, lasts 2500 charge cycles and works from -30°C up to 60°C. That kind of life span is why LFP suits everyday cars like the Nexon.ev and Punch.ev. NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) packs more energy in the same space, so it's better for range and quick power. Agratas will make two NMC cells: a smaller 374Wh one and a bigger 173Ah, 636Wh unit for higher-performance models. Both NMC cells last 1000+ cycles. Simple takeaway: cheaper Tata EVs likely get LFP, the faster longer-range ones get NMC.
Why this matters for Tata EV buyers
Here's the honest part. If you're buying a Tata EV today, this changes nothing until 2027. But it matters for what comes after. Making your own cells means Tata controls its costs, which is huge as EV prices keep falling below ₹15 lakh. It also means fewer supply shocks. Right now, a China supply problem could hit parts, prices or even warranty support. Owning the factory lowers that risk. So this is a reason to trust Tata's long-term EV plan, not a reason to rush to a showroom now.
Agratas vs Mahindra, Hyundai and MG
This is where Tata pulls ahead. Mahindra, Hyundai and MG EVs still lean on Chinese cell makers like LG and CATL. None of them make their own cells in India yet. Tata will, and with two chemistries at that. That gives Tata pricing power and supply safety its rivals simply don't have. One catch worth knowing: AESC Group, owned by Chinese firm Envision, recently bought a 12% stake in Agratas. So the China link isn't fully gone, but Tata now owns the factory and the tech.
Timeline and the JLR export angle
The rollout starts in 2027, so don't expect Agratas cells in any car this year. Beyond India, Agratas signed a seven-year, ₹5,000-crore deal to supply Jaguar Land Rover EVs, likely with NMC cells. That deal shows the scale Tata is aiming for. It also proves the tech is good enough for premium global cars, not just budget hatchbacks. Agratas will even add a 'battery passport', a digital record tracking each battery from cell to car.
References: Tata India — official website
