JSW MG Motor India has launched the Hector Tomahawk EV at ₹13.99 lakh with Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS), against ₹19.49 lakh for outright purchase, and the Tomahawk plug-in hybrid at ₹21.79 lakh with BaaS, against ₹25.69 lakh without it, taking its battery-rental strategy into larger SUVs.Under BaaS, customers pay ₹4.90 a km for the EV battery and ₹3.20 a km for the PHEV battery, allowing MG to pitch the C-segment EV at prices closer to smaller petrol SUVs and the plug-in hybrid against diesel automatics.The twin launch marks MG’s biggest expansion yet of the BaaS formula that helped turn the Windsor into India’s top-selling electric car.The strategy separates the battery from the vehicle’s upfront purchase price, converting one of an EV’s biggest costs into a usage-linked expense. MG first pushed the model aggressively with the Windsor EV, which was launched at ₹9.99 lakh plus battery rental and has sold more than 75,000 units in less than two years.MG subsequently extended BaaS across its electric portfolio, including the Comet EV and ZS EV. The Tomahawk takes the experiment further by moving the formula into a larger SUV and, for the first time in the range, pairing it with a plug-in hybrid alternative.Parth Jindal, director, JSW MG Motor India, said the BaaS structure allows the company to price a C-segment electric SUV in the territory of smaller B-segment internal-combustion vehicles, while positioning the PHEV against diesel automatics.“When we introduced MG ADAPT, we said the road to new energy would not be the same for everyone. That is exactly why the platform was designed to enable more than one answer,” Jindal said.Two routes to electrificationThat thinking underpins MG’s new ADAPT platform, which can support multiple energy technologies rather than forcing customers towards a single powertrain.The Tomahawk EV gets a 69.2-kWh battery and has a claimed range of 517 km on a single charge. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in September.The PHEV targets customers who want to do much of their everyday driving on electricity but remain concerned about charging availability on longer journeys.It combines a 20.5-kWh battery with a 1.5-litre petrol engine, dedicated hybrid transmission and a 148-kW electric motor. MG claims more than 115 km of pure-electric range and over 1,100 km of combined range on a fully charged battery and full tank.The 115-km electric range potentially allows many owners to cover routine urban commutes without using petrol, while retaining the engine for inter-city travel.The drivetrain can operate in pure-electric, series-hybrid, parallel-hybrid and engine-direct-drive modes depending on driving conditions. MG claims the PHEV can accelerate from zero to 100 kmph in about nine seconds. Deliveries are expected to start in November.Both versions measure 4,745 mm in length, with a 2,810-mm wheelbase and 230-mm ground clearance. Equipment includes a 15.6-inch touchscreen, digital instrument cluster, panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats, powered tailgate, 10-speaker Infinity audio system and MG’s connected-car technology.For MG, however, the bigger test is whether the formula that worked with the Windsor can travel further up the market. The Tomahawk gives buyers a choice between a 517-km pure EV and a PHEV capable of more than 115 km on electricity and over 1,100 km overall—while BaaS attempts to bring their initial purchase prices closer to the petrol and diesel SUVs they are designed to replace.Published on August 26, 2026