Mahindra & Mahindra has matched the lowest bid price offered by Tata Motors under the world’s largest tender for the purchase of 10,000 electric cars. It will now supply 150 vehicles in the first phase, state-run Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) has said. The deadline for the EV delivery in Phase 1 is November 30, 2017.

"ESSL confirms the order for Phase 1 of its electric vehicle tender. Mahindra & Mahindra matches the lowest bid price quoted by Tata Motors," EESL said in a statement. “As per the tender conditions, Mahindra & Mahindra can supply up to 40 percent of the order. But it has agreed to supply 30 percent of the order of 500 electric cars in Phase 1. Thus, they would supply 150 cars," EESL managing director Saurabh Kumar told PTI.

Commenting on Phase 2 procurement of 9,500 cars after Phase 1 deliveries are completed, Kumar said, "Mahindra & Mahindra has matched the bids. As per the tender, they can supply up to 40 percent of the order. It is up to them to decide about the quantum of supply within their permissible limit (40 percent)."

As reported on September 30, Tata Motors emerged as the lowest bidder for the 10,000 EV order, with the lowest price of Rs 10.16 lakh exclusive of GST. Tata Motors’s offer of Rs 11.2 lakh, inclusive of GST and a comprehensive five-year warranty – which is 25 percent below the current retail price of a similar e-car with a three-year warranty – helped the company bag the deal.