London: On the occasion of India’s Independence Day, auto major Mahindra & Mahindra shared its electric mobility plans in UK by unveiling a new INGLO EV platform and showcasing its five new electric SUVs for the Indian market, under two EV brands.
The automaker’s EV brands include the already existing XUV with the twin peak logo in Copper and the new electric-only brand called BE. The five new electric SUVs include the XUV.e8, XUV.e9, BE.05, BE.07 and BE.09,which will come with Mahindra’s new Heartcore design philosophy. The first four of these will be launched by the next four years, between 2024 and 2026.
With a plan to invest over USD 1 billion in electric vehicle ambition, Mahindra in July raised INR 1,925 crores (USD 250 million) at a valuation of up to INR 70,070 crores (USD 9.1 billion) from British International Investment, the UK’s Development Finance Institution, into its electric four wheeler business.
The automaker now expects sales of 2 lakh electric vehicles to come from electric SUVs by 2027.
Mahindra & Mahindra also said that it has signed a Term Sheet with the Volkswagen Group on the supply of MEB electric components for the former’s new electric platform INGLO, extending the partnering agreement from earlier this year.
“The cooperation intends to have a volume of more than one million units over lifetime and includes the equipment of five all-electric SUVs with MEB components. In addition, the two companies will explore further opportunities for collaboration, opening the perspective towards a broader strategic alliance to accelerate the electrification of the Indian automotive market,” said the statement.
Mahindra’s first of the five new electric SUVs, XUV.e8, will be launched in December 2024 starting with the India market. Its dimensions will be 4740 x 1900 x 1760 mm.
The second, XUV.e9 will launch in April 2025 measuring 4790 x 1905 x 1690 mm and Wheelbase of 2775 mm.
Third, BE.05 will launch in October 2025 with dimensions of 4370 x 1900 x 1635 mm and wheelbase 2775 mm. It will come with a racing inspired bold design and multi-sensory experiences.
Next, BE.07 will launch in October 2026, measuring 4565 x 1900 x 1660 mm and wheelbase of 2775 mm. It will offer a family space with multi-sensory experiences.
Mahindra did not confirm the launch timeline and dimensions of the fifth electric SUV, BE.09. However it will be based on its INGLO platform and “allow four passengers a first-class experience.”
With LFP chemistry, Mahindra electric vehicles will follow a common battery pack design with lean modules and standardised cell-to-pack technology using two different cell architectures of Blade and Prismatic.
Offered with options ranging from 60-80 kWh battery capacity, protected for 175 kW fast-charge and charging up to 80% in less than 30 minutes. The Battery Management System’s high number of charge-discharge cycles coupled with a long lifespan will also help reduce waste.
It will come with a compact all-in-one electric engine with motor-inverter-transmission integrated into a single unit forming the powertrain, offered with both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive, developing a 170-210 kW and a 250-290 kW respectively. Standstill to 100 kmph is promised in between 5 and 6 seconds.
Mahindra said its new electric SUVs are designed to meet the vehicle safety norms and safety for batteries such as GNCAP and not just limited to regulatory compliance. All the e-SUVs will come with a structural cage around the passenger cabin specially designed for reduced passenger injury. The frontal design of the Body-In-White is enhanced with three load paths and a multi-piece dash panel with reinforcement and battery protection is ensured by ultra-high strength boron steel.
“The new e-SUVs are tested at the world’s largest battery development and testing center. With 5 Radars-1 Vision ADAS architecture, INGLO is futureproofed up to L2+ autonomy,” it said.
The INGLO platform will underpin all the Mahindra EVs going forward. It delivers a multi-sensorial driving experience with a futuristic, augmented reality-enabled heads-up display, edge-to-edge screen, 5G network capability and Over-The-Air updates. It also offers significant reduction in underbody weight, leading to one of the lightest skateboards, said the company.
Dr Anish Shah, Managing Director & CEO, Mahindra Group said, “We are proud and delighted to showcase our Born Electric vision. By 2027, we expect that a quarter of the SUVs we sell will be electric.”
Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director – Auto and Farm Sectors, Mahindra & Mahindra said, “Our vision of Born Electric is underpinned by the future-ready INGLO platform, two new exciting brands and the Heartcore design philosophy.”
The auto major’s first major step to mark its entry in the electric vehicle industry was with the acquisition of Reva Electric Car Company 12 years ago. However things did not progress as planned in the nascent Indian EV industry at that time.
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