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Mahindra reveals EV plans: Electric variants and new models

Mahindra outlines its electric future, bypassing hybrid tech

24 May 2023, 10:38 am

Matt Raudonikis

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As Indian SUV and LCV manufacturer Mahindra brings its latest vehicles to the Australian market in the form of the recently launched Scorpio 4x4 wagon and soon-to-arrive XUV7OO, it has also given insight into its plans for electrification.

On a recent visit to Mahindra’s facilities in India, officials told us they have no plans for any type of hybrid powertrains but plan to go exclusively into full EVs.

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Hybrid and so-called mild hybrid vehicles have proven a popular choice in Australia, as they offer a stepping stone toward electrification and provide a solution to limited driving range in a country where long distances are often travelled.

Mahindra will forgo this with its plans to launch five new EVs in the coming years, with four of them coming to market by 2026 including a version of the XUV7OO (that’s seven double-o, not seven double-zero).

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Existing vehicles such as the XUV7OO that spawn EV variants will maintain the XUV nomenclature, while vehicles built on a new pure EV platform which the company is calling INGLO will be called BE (Born Electric).

Mahindra’s first EV is the XUV4OO, which is an EV version of the XUV3OO small SUV, a platform shared with SsangYong. The XUV400 produces 110kW and 310Nm and offers up to 456km of range from its 39.4kW lithium-ion battery.

The EV variant of the XUV7OO is expected to be the next EV from the company, while other existing models such as the new Scorpio, the Jeep Wrangler-like Thar, and even the PikUp utility will be in line for electrification; although, no timeline was shared for these.

The Born Electric pure EV range will arrive later in 2024 on the INGLO platform, which is a lightweight skateboard-style of architecture.

Mahindra previously announced it had entered an agreement with Volkswagen to share the German brand’s electric powertrain technology to speed up its development.

The Indian company has also started work on a new vehicle production plant in the Pune district of India, where it maintains an existing plant building ICE SUVs.

Mahindra executives tell us they are focused on getting EV products out to the domestic Indian markets, with other markets to follow including the possibility of Australia.