Tata Ace Pro, the mini truck for new Indian entrepreneurs

It had tried with the Nano, the super-cheap car that with its price equivalent to 2,000 euros should have made individual mobility in India take a leap forward. But it was a flop. Now Tata is trying again with the Ace Pro pickup truck, a small commercial vehicle with a 750 kg payload and three possible engines: petrol, bi-fuel with CNG and electric. The goal declared at the time of the launch and supported by a series of videos available on YouTube is now to provide an affordable base - the equivalent of 3,973 euros - for a new generation of entrepreneurs. It is that lower-middle class within a population of 1.467 billion people who live in a separate universe compared to 1 million rich people with an income of more than 1 million euros a year and even the 205 Indian billionaires. This is why Ace-Pro is light years away from the luxury cars that Tata produces in the United Kingdom with its subsidiary Jaguar Land Rover. But it is a cut above – especially in terms of comfort, performance and safety – the three-wheeled ‘auto-rickshaws’ that are the backbone of cargo (and people) transport in India. Speaking about the Ace-Pro, Tata Motors’ commercial vehicles division says that this “is the most affordable 4-wheel mini-truck in India and, at 1,000 lakhs, heralds a new era in cargo mobility to propel the next wave of Indian entrepreneurs.”

Local customers can now pre-order their preferred Ace Pro model from a few days ago at any of the 1,250 Tata Motors commercial vehicle outlets across the country or on Fleet Verse, Tata Motors’ online sales platform. Speaking at the launch of the Ace-Pro and referring to the previous Ace model, Girish Wagh, Executive Director, Tata Motors, said, “The launch of the Tata Ace revolutionised freight mobility in India and over the last two decades, it has empowered over 2.5 million entrepreneurs to become a symbol of progress and initiative.” “With the all-new Tata Ace-Pro, we are building on this legacy with a renewed focus for a new generation of dreamers. Designed for stability, safety and profitability, the Ace Pro unlocks greater earning potential to fulfil the ambitions of aspiring entrepreneurs who are ready to take charge of their future.” Tata Ace-Pro sets a new benchmark with a best-in-class payload capacity of 750 kg and a versatile 1.98 m bed. It will be available with factory-fitted semi- or full-body cargo boxes, but is also compatible with special vans, municipal applications and refrigerated vans. The high-strength chassis and its robust aggregates, Tata points out, ensure reliable performance even with heavy loads. It will be available in petrol, bi-fuel and electric variants. The former uses a 694cc engine that produces 30 PS and 55 Nm of torque, combining power with fuel efficiency. The bi-fuel variant, which combines the economy of CNG with the flexibility of a 5-litre petrol reserve tank, develops 26 PS of power and 51 Nm of torque in ‘gas’ mode. Finally, the Ace-Pro Electric puts out 38 PS of power and 104 Nm of torque and offers a range of 155 km on a single charge. The battery and engine are IP67 certified for reliability in all weather conditions. For this new model, Tata has designed a spacious, car-like interior with ergonomic seats, ample storage space and adequate comfort. Safety is paramount, with the interior crash-tested to the AIS096 standard. There is a digital instrument panel to which an infotainment system can be added as an option.