Homegrown carmaker Mahindra & Mahindra will launch an electric variant of its upcoming sub-four-metre SUV (codenamed S201), in the first or second quarter of the calendar year 2020, Pawan Goenka, managing director, Mahindra & Mahindra said today on the sidelines of the announcement of the company's Q2 results for FY2019.
Mahindra is gearing up to launch the combustion-engine powered version of the model, touted to be named XUV300, in a few months. Although the Nexon and Brezza rival will be based on the Tivoli, it will get a higher ground clearance, use fatter tyres and feature different front and rear styling.
As we reported earlier, the electric S201 could deliver a real-world range of 250km under the NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) and a top speed of 150kph, with a claimed 0-100kph time of 11sec. Interestingly, an electric Tivoli is also part of Ssangyong's plan to launch electric variants of its models by 2020.
The introduction of the electric S201 is part of Mahindra's plan to expand its electric by launching three new models which also include the eKUV100, showcased at the Auto Expo 2018.
Despite the government’s big push towards zero-emission cars, sales of electric four-wheelers in India – while still in a nascent stage – declined significantly in FY2018 (Apr-Mar). According to data from the Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV), the number electric four-wheelers sold fell to 1,200 units from 2,000 in FY2017.
Acknowledging the slowdown in EV sales, Goenka said although the company's EV sales (excluding e-rickshaws) grew 30 percent, it should have been higher. "But I must admit that I would have expected a higher growth because 30 percent is on a very small base. With the eKUV100 and electric S201 launch, everything’s moving in the right direction, but somewhat slower than what I would have liked to see," Goenka added.