Starting 2010 Tata plans on selling its Electric Indica in Norway.

Autobloggreen reports that the model that was on display at the Detroit Motor Show is already being tested in its new home.

Although the all-electric Tata Indica on display at the SAE World Congress in Detroit this week is not the soon-to-be-released model, there’s a lot we can learn from the vehicle – and from TM4’s Eriz Azeroual – about how the technology will be implemented when the new model goes on sale in Norway either later this year or in early 2010 (yes, this is later than previously expected). Tata Motors showed off the Indica EV at the Bologna Motor Show in December, but the hatchback is making an appearance in Detroit because of the work that TM4, a subsidiary of Hydro Québec, did providing the permanent magnet motor and the inverter. TM4’s Azeroual (he’s business development manager there) told us that a limited number of the Indica’s are already testing in Norway and that Tata Motors is “a cool company. Very aggressive.” Even though they’re most famous for the Nano and apparently wanting to dominate the low-end automobile market, in Europe market they want to be known for electric vehicles.

The reason for a country as obscure as Norway… The tax on petrol (or gas as some people like to call it). And of course, these cars might make their way to the American shores soon after.

Norway is a perfect entry point to bring an EV to Europe because there is a high tax on gasoline-powered vehicles. The high cost of electric vehilces isn’t totally equalized by the taxes, but EVs and gas-powered vehicle prices end up being “comparable” in Norway and this presents customers with an “interesting choice,” Azeroual said. Following the Norwegian introduction, Tata plans to expand the Indica EV to other European markets and then possibly the U.S.

Although they look like a Focus, specially the back end, I would think that this is a good move. Given that Tata are in a partnership with Fiat, who in turn are trying to get in bed with Chrysler, Tata might find an easy route to the USA, along with an already existing dealer network.

They could tap into their existing Jaguar and Land Rover dealerships, by me thinks that an Indica, specially a green one might not look at home in a British car dealership.

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