Tata Motors urges govt to keep hybrid tax as Toyota seeks cut

India’s top electric car maker Tata Motors is urging the government not to cut taxes on hybrid cars as they are more polluting than pure electrics, countering calls from Toyota for lower levies, according to three sources and a company letter.

India is promoting electric vehicles (EV) as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s drive to reduce pollution, taxing them at just 5%, while the levy on hybrids is as high as 43%, just below the 48% imposed on petrol cars.