The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE has announced that Tata Motors of United Kingdom has signed an official letter of intent to compete in the famed competition. The Automotive X PRIZE competition is designed to inspire a new generation of viable, super fuel efficient  vehicles. Tata Motors in the process becomes the first major automobile manufacturer to take part in the competition which has a total of 70 teams from 12 countries around the world and 22 U.S states, which will now compete for a prize money of $10 million.

The competition is open to all teams from around the world who can build and design a production capable, 100 MPGe (Miles per gallon energy equivalent) vehicle that people would want to buy and meets the market’s need for price, size, capability, safety and performance in one of the two classes: Mainstream and Alternative. A Mainstream catagory vehicle will be required to carry 4 or more passengers, have atleast 4 wheels and it must allow for atleast 200 mile range, while an alternative class vehicle will be required to carry a minimum to two people and has no constraint on the number of wheels and should allow for a 100-mile range. In short a shoddy design with a smallish diesel or petrol engine with no performance and just the space to sit for four just won’t do, the vehicle has to commercially viable or atleast the concept has to be commercially viable.

Jonathan Etherington, Principal Engineer of Tata Motors European Technical Centre (TMETC), will lead the Tata Motors team. Under Etherington’s direction, the team intends to enter a pure e-drive micro car into the Alternative Class and Dominant Electric Hybrid vehicle into the Mainstream Class.

Other recent entrants to the Letter of Intent program include Motive Industries of Canada, Western Washington University, Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technologies, Inc. of Chicago, IL and TTW Turin Italy of Turin, Italy. Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Neil Young also intends to enter his 1960 Lincoln Continental conversion into the competition, along with his partner Jonathan Goodwin.

The Progressive Automotive X PRIZE is open to all — automakers large and small as well as innovators — who believe the goal of a 100 MPGe vehicle is not only possible but essential if we are to break our addiction to oil.

“We are so pleased that such a diverse group of competitors intends to compete for the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE,” noted Don Foley, Executive Director of the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE. “With the first stage race only 17 months away and the price of crude oil now hovering around $120 a barrel, consumer interest in the need for such a competition and a long term solution to fuel prices is rapidly growing.”

Beginning in September 2009, the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE will kick off a cross-country stage race in New York City, followed by nine other major markets throughout the U.S., in which competing vehicles will be tested and showcased in real world conditions. Organizers are now seeking cities to host the remaining stages of the competition.

Winners will be the vehicles that exceed 100 MPG equivalent, fall under strict emissions caps and finish in the fastest time. The competition is scheduled to conclude in 2010.

ABOUT THE PROGRESSIVE AUTOMOTIVE X PRIZE

The goal of the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE is to inspire a new generation of viable, super fuel-efficient vehicles that offer more consumer choices. Ten million dollars in prizes will be awarded to the teams that win a stage race for clean, production-capable vehicles that exceed 100 MPGe.

The Progressive Automotive X PRIZE will place a major focus on efficiency, safety, affordability, and the environment. It is about developing real, production-capable cars that consumers will want to buy, not science projects or concept cars. This progress is needed because today’s oil consumption is unsustainable and because automotive emissions significantly contribute to global warming and climate change.

ABOUT THE X PRIZE FOUNDATION

The X PRIZE Foundation is an educational nonprofit prize institute whose mission is to create radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. In 2004, the Foundation captured world headlines when Burt Rutan, backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, built and flew the world’s first private vehicle to space to win the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE. The Foundation has since launched the $10 million Archon X PRIZE for Genomics, the $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE, and the $10 million Progressive Automotive X PRIZE. The Foundation is creating prizes in five areas: Exploration (Space and Underwater), Life Sciences, Energy & Environment, Education and Global Development. The Foundation is widely recognized as the leading model for fostering innovation through competition. For more information, please visit www.xprize.org or email prcontact@xprize.org.

For more information about the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE, please visit www.progressiveautoxprize.org or email progressiveautopress@xprize.org.

ABOUT PROGRESSIVE

Progressive, founded in 1937, is a leading insurer of cars, motorcycles, recreation vehicles, boats, personal watercraft and commercial vehicles. The company offers competitive rates and products that meet drivers’ needs throughout their lifetimes as well as 24/7 online and in-person customer and claims service.

Progressive’s products and services are available locally through more than 30,000 independent insurance agencies in the U.S., online at progressive.com and by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE (1-800-776-4737).