Five electric SUV models coming from Mahindra

Five electric SUVs will be launched in India by the end of 2024, with some possibly coming here.

That’s under a new expanded cooperation deal between Mahindra & Mahindra and Volkswagen Group, expected to be signed off later this year.

The “strategic alliance” will accelerate electrification in the Indian automotive market first, using VW’s MEB electric components, with both companies exploring further collaborative opportunities in India’s e-mobility sector, including vehicle projects, charging and energy solutions, and battery cell manufacturing.

The MEB electric components will be supplied for Mahindra’s new, purpose-built electric platform INGLO, expanding a partnering agreement from earlier this year.

It is intended to see more than a million units produced, including five all-electric SUVs with MEB components.

Mahindra showcased its new electric SUV family at the Mahindra Born EV vision unveil event in Banbury, United Kingdom.

The electric SUVs will be launched on the new INGLO platform architecture with MEB components expected to include the electric drivetrain, the battery system and Volkswagen’s unified cell.

Reports suggest the INGLO platform supports 60-80kWh battery packs fast charged to 80% in 30 minutes through a 175kW charger, and the SUVs provided in both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive.

“Together, Volkswagen and Mahindra can contribute significantly to the electrification of India, a huge automotive market with ambitious climate protection commitments,” says Volkswagen Group components chief executive Thomas Schmall.

“The MEB electric platform and its components are key to affordable sustainable mobility around the globe. The partnership not only demonstrates that our platform business is highly competitive, but also that the MEB is well on track to become one of the leading open platforms for e-mobility.”

Mahindra & Mahindra auto and farm sectors executive director Rajesh Jejurikar says: “Our purpose-built INGLO platform offers unmatched potential for growth and further customisation for developing new and innovative products, not just for India, but for global markets.”

With around three million new vehicles annually, India is one of the five largest automobile markets in the world and, along with China, the only region to record an increase in new registrations in the first half of 2022.