The OEM’s aspiration is to become India’s largest NEV manufacturer by 2030. The Hector Tomahawk’s EV and plug-in hybrid forms are a bolder step toward that goal.
The global share of internal combustion engine vehicles will plummet from 77% in 2023 to 23% in 2035, while electric vehicle penetration in India has doubled to 8% – against this backdrop, JSW MG Motor India recently launched its first ADAPT platform product, Hector Tomahawk, including electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The models are the company’s boldest move yet, and if Chairman Mr Parth Jindal and Managing Director Mr Anurag Mehrotra are anything to go by, it’s just the beginning.
A name with a story
The Hector was named after the British biplane Hawker Hector, while the Tomahawk’s name also stems from history. Squadron Leader Dr. MJ Augustine Vinod, a Kargil veteran and the officer who masterminded the Balakot Phantom attack, takes viewers back to 1941 in North Africa. The Spitfire was the pride of the RAF, but was beset by limited range and engines clogged with sand. The Allies turned to the P-40 Tomahawk – which was heavier, sturdier and capable of a range of 700 miles using only internal fuel, pioneering drop tank technology still used in today’s fighters. “Not the fastest, but it delivers the most important things – range, structural strength and a cockpit designed around the pilot,” he said. JSW MG believes Hector Tomahawk embodies this spirit.
MG India name
Mr. Jindal said, “The legacy of JSW MG is the Hector. While so many multinationals have come and gone to India, the OEM has thrived because of it. The Hector Tomahawk combines the lessons learned from the original Hector (a commanding presence) with the cabin comfort and functionality taught by the Windsor.”
Bold on the outside, sophisticated on the inside
At 4,745 mm long and 1,770 mm high, the Hector Tomahawk is the tallest and longest in its class. Illuminated MG badging, beacon headlights with LED daytime running lights, chrome accents, R18 rotor alloy wheels and a powered tailgate create a commanding feel. Inside, the 2,810mm wheelbase devotes 85% of the floor area to usable space. Mr. Manish Manek, Head, VLE and Head, PE, JSW MG Motor India said Desert Squadron interior theme, 256-color ambient lighting, 10-speaker Infinity audio, ventilated front seats, 6-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory function, panoramic sunroof, flexible second row and 610-litre luggage compartment make every journey comfortable.
Technology as the core
The largest 39.62 cm high-definition wide viewing angle display in its class, powered by iSmart 3.0, offers over 80 connectivity features, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Eye Swipe gesture control, and over 30 Indian English voice commands. MG has partnered with Jio to launch India’s first Gen AI with karaoke capabilities, capable of understanding natural conversations on over 8,000 tracks. Six cab modes and Level 2 ADAS with 11 functions, 360-degree HD camera, high-strength steel structure, ESP, TCS and ABS with EBD round out safety and comfort.
Electric Vehicles – 517 km, India’s first V2H
The Hector Tomahawk EV’s 69.2 kWh MAGIC battery has passed more than 2,000 bench tests and 490 full vehicle validations, including fire-free pinprick tests. A real-time battery management system ensures continuous health monitoring. The result: a certified driving range of 517 kilometers, 90 kW DC fast charging from 30 to 80 percent in 35 minutes, and a permanent magnet synchronous motor delivering 150 kW and 310 Nm from 0-100 km/h in 8.2 seconds.
Most importantly, it is the first car in India to feature vehicle-to-home technology. “It transforms an electric car from a vehicle that consumes electricity to a vehicle that gives energy back,” Mr. Manek said. The BaaS introductory price of the electric car is Rs 13.99 lakh + battery leasing price of Rs 4.90/km, and the outright ownership price starts from Rs 19.49 lakh. Deliveries will begin in September 2026.
diesel killer
Mr Jindal puts it bluntly – plug-in hybrids are “diesel killers”. For the 90% of buyers who have yet to switch to new energy sources, plug-in hybrids are firmly positioned against diesel vehicles. “Our competition is diesel,” he said. The Hector Tomahawk (electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid) is the first real-world expression of MG’s ADAPT platform, which is built on the belief that no single technology can serve every customer. Mr. Jindal noted that the path to new energy does not have to be one-size-fits-all.
Goods and Services Tax Hurdles
Mehrotra spoke candidly about one limitation – taxes. Currently, plug-in hybrid vehicles are subject to a 40% goods and services tax, the same as traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, while pure electric vehicles only pay 5%. “We would have liked to have priced it higher, but we were at our wits end,” he admits. The company is actively working with the government through industry channels to develop a more nuanced tax framework – distinguishing between plug-in hybrids, extended-range electric vehicles and pure electric vehicles. “There’s nothing wrong with the logic of the government defining it by what drives the drivetrain,” he added. He believes a clearer tax structure will make plug-in hybrids more accessible and accelerate the localization and profitability goals the company is working to achieve.
PHEV – 1,100 km, no range anxiety
The Hector Tomahawk PHEV is, as Mr. Mehrotra puts it, “the antidote to range anxiety.” The electromagnetic dedicated hybrid transmission combines a 20.5 kWh battery with a 1.5-liter dedicated hybrid engine with a thermal efficiency of 43.2%, which can switch drive modes in four intelligent modes (pure electric mode, series mode, parallel mode and engine direct mode) in 0.1 seconds. The result: a purely electric range of 115 kilometers in daily use and a combined range of 1,100 kilometers. For daily drivers, the effective mileage per liter is over 50 kilometers. The 148 kW electric motor accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 9 seconds. “Two cars for the price of one,” he said. Prices start at Rs 21.79 Lakh + Rs 3.20/km for BaaS and Rs 25.69 Lakh for full ownership. Deliveries will begin in November 2026.
From supply push to consumption pull
Mr. Mehrotra made a stark comparison – SUV penetration grew from 5% to 65% in a decade, not because of demand, but because of supply. Electric cars follow the same script. Monthly sales of electric vehicles have grown from 100,000 to an estimated 450,000 this year. “Three years ago, no one believed that 10% penetration was possible. Now, 30% penetration by 2030 seems achievable,” he said.
second life story
In addition to the product launch, the OEM has also launched a ‘Guaranteed Buyback Scheme’ – for a one-time fee of Rs 30,000, customers can lock in guaranteed buyback value of 60% after three years, 55% after four years or 50% after five years. Returned vehicles are refurbished (batteries replaced, interiors redone) and sold to fleet operators. “The second life of electric vehicles will be fleets,” Mr. Jindal said. IT companies, global competence centers and data center employees with green mobility requirements are increasingly choosing refurbished electric vehicles. Some ZS electric cars are already operating as Uber Black vehicles.
The investment behind the ambition
JSW MG Motor India is investing Rs 3,500 crore to expand production from 110,000 units currently to 160,000 units by March 2027 and to 220,000 units by January 2028. Suppliers will invest an additional Rs 2,500 crore, taking the total investment to about Rs 6,000 crore. The goal is to reach 70% localization rate of Windsor and Hector Tomahawk platforms by the end of 2027. “When we localize, everything is within our own control. With profits, you become more aggressive,” Mr. Mehrotra added.
