Tata Safari EV Spied: Late To The 7-Seat EV Party Mahindra Already Owns
Tata's seven-seat electric SUV has finally broken cover, with the Safari EV caught on test for the first time. A festive-season 2026 launch is expected, putting it directly against the Mahindra XEV 9S, which has already become Mahindra's best-selling electric SUV ahead of the BE 6 and XEV 9.
What was announced
The Tata Safari EV has been spied on public roads for the first time, confirming that road-test validation is underway ahead of a launch expected around the 2026 festive season. It will be Tata's first seven-seater electric SUV and slots in above the Harrier EV in the lineup.
Tata had the runway to define the seven-seat electric SUV in India and let Mahindra take off first.
Exterior styling stays close to the ICE Safari. The test mule retains the squared, flared wheel arches, the existing roof-rail design, and the prominent roof-mounted spoiler. The gently tapering roofline and raked windscreen carry over, suggesting Tata is not redesigning the silhouette for the EV, in line with the approach taken on the Harrier EV.
The Safari EV will rival the Mahindra XEV 9S, which has emerged as Mahindra's best-selling electric SUV, outselling both the BE 6 and the XEV 9. That sales mix is the key data point here: it confirms Indian EV buyers in the premium segment want three rows, not just two. Tata currently leads the overall EV market in India, but missed the first-mover advantage on the seven-seat electric SUV. After the Safari EV and the upcoming Sierra EV reach showrooms, only the Altroz will remain to be electrified in Tata's passenger car portfolio, completing one of the broadest EV ranges from any mainstream Indian manufacturer.
The Car Jury verdict
Tata had the runway to launch India's first proper three-row electric SUV and didn't take it. The Harrier EV arrived first, the Safari EV didn't, and Mahindra walked through the open door with the XEV 9S. That order matters: families who wanted seven seats and a battery have already signed cheques, and the XEV 9S is now outselling the BE 6 in Mahindra's own showrooms.
The Safari EV still has a real shot, because Tata's EV distribution and service footprint dwarf Mahindra's, and as Biturbo Media notes, "one strong point we always see with Tata is that they build their cars like tanks." But Tata cannot price this like a halo product. The Harrier EV's pricing was punchy; the Safari EV needs to be sharper still, or it becomes the second choice in a segment Tata should have defined.