The country’s leading automaker, Mahindra & Mahindra, has some big plans for electric vehicles for the Indian market. Mahindra & Mahindra has announced that the automaker will open a new manufacturing plant for electric cars in Pune, Maharashtra. The automaker will invest Rs 10,000 crore for the new EV plant, and the investment has been approved under the Maharashtra government’s industrial promotion scheme for electric vehicles. This investment will be made over a period of 7 to 8 years.
Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director, Auto and Farm Sectors at Mahindra & Mahindra, commented on the announcement: “We are excited to establish an EV production facility in Pune and to continue our more than 70-year investment in our “home” state. I’m overjoyed that the Maharashtra government has given its clearance. We are very appreciative of the Maharashtra government’s ongoing assistance. Maharashtra has become India’s EV hub thanks to the government’s emphasis on “ease of doing business”, progressive legislation and Mahindra’s investment. This will further attract both domestic and foreign direct investment.”
The automaker introduced its new BE brand for EVs on August 15 this year in Oxfordshire, UK. The new BE cars mark the beginning of a new chapter in Mahindra’s electric mobility plans and will be based on the newly developed INGLO EV platform. The new EV architecture will lead to a host of future electric SUVs under the BE brand and new electric SUVs under the ‘XUV brand.
Mahindra’s upcoming electric SUVs will be sold through two new sub-brands, XUV.e and BE. The carmaker has already confirmed that the XUV.e models will be the first to hit showrooms – including the XUV.e8 (in December 2024) and the XUV.e9. The first BE model will be launched in the market in October 2025.
The upcoming Mahindra XUV.e8 SUV will essentially be the electric version of the XUV700. The final production version will share its design elements and features with its ICE-powered counterpart. The concept model features a closed-off front grille, bumper-mounted headlamps, a full-width LED light bar leading to the bumper, a sharply designed hood and an angular stance. The XUV.e8 measures 4740mm in length, 1900mm in width, and 1760mm in height and has a wheelbase of 2762mm. Compared to the ICE-powered XUV700, the electric SUV is around 45mm longer, 10mm wider, and 5mm taller. It will be made available with up to 80kWh battery pack and AWD (all-wheel drive) system.