Tata plans on using an electric-hybrid driven car in the prize's 'mainstream' category, in which vehicles will be required to carry four or more passengers, have four or more wheels, and allow for a 200-mile range. Tata will also enter a micro-car in the 'alternative' class category, in which vehicles will be required to carry two or more passengers and allow for a 100-mile range, reports AutoWeek.
While the prize purse consist of $10 million in total, the funds will be split amongst the winning teams that finish with the fastest times in various stages in a cross-country relay race across the U.S. starting next year. Challengers also have to successfully build and market their 100mpg vehicles.
Tata's attempt to win the Automotive X Prize will be in fierce competition against 70 other teams, including Tesla and its electric car plus a number of much smaller teams such as Motive Industries and its practical 100mpg hatch as well as Aptera’s futuristic Typ-1 300mpg plug-in hybrid.