Mahindra has a large order backlog of over 2.66 lakh SUVs as of February 2023. The Scorpio (Scorpio Classic and Scorpio N combined) has the biggest backlog of 1.19 lakh bookings, while the Bolero (Bolero and Bolero Neo combined) has the lowest at 9,000 bookings. Thanks to the sheer number of open bookings, the waiting period for some Mahindra SUVs stretches up to almost two years. 

1. Mahindra Thar 2WD diesel waiting period streches up to 1.5 years
2. Mahindra Bolero SUVs have the lowest waiting period 
3. Mahindra to increase production to 6 lakh units per annum

Mahindra Scorpio N has the highest waiting period 

The large number of pending bookings explains why the Scorpio N has the highest waiting period of any SUV from the Mahindra line-up. The Z8L automatic variants in both petrol and diesel have the lowest waiting period of little over six months, while the Z8 variants have the highest, at nearly two years. Comparatively, the Scorpio Classic, which is available in just two variants, has a considerably lower waiting period of between five to six months.

Top-end Mahindra XUV700 variants in high demand

After the Scorpio SUVs, it is the XUV700, which has the biggest order backlog of over 77,000 units. Like the Scorpio, it is the top-end AX7 and AX7L variants, in both petrol and diesel, which have the highest waiting period of up to a year and four months. The lower MX and AX3 petrol models can be had in just over two weeks. The waiting period for corresponding diesel variants is much higher, indicating greater popularity for the XUV700 diesel.

Diesel Thar 2WD waiting period crosses one year mark 

The Mahindra Thar has an order backlog of 37,000 bookings, and that includes the newly launched Thar 2WD, which is fast gaining popularity. Launched only in January, the waiting period for the diesel-powered Thar 2WD is already between 16-18 months.

The diesel Thar 2WD is the most affordable in the Thar range, thanks to its sub-4-metre length and an engine capacity of under 1.5-litres, which helps it with the tax benefits. It is more affordable also because it misses the complex 4X4 system. The petrol-powered Thar 2WD, on the other hand, can be delivered in three months. 

Our dealer sources had told us that most Thar buyers are transferring the bookings from 4X4 variants to 2WD variants, and this trend will eventually help bring down the waiting period for Thar 4X4. Currently, the waiting period for Thar 4X4 is about one month. 

Over 20,000 pending orders for Mahindra XUV300 and XUV400

Mahindra’s Nexon rival – the XUV300 – and its EV counterpart, the XUV400 have combined pending bookings of 23,000. The all-electric XUV400 recently crossed the 10,000 bookings mark, and commands a waiting period of 7 months. Deliveries for the XUV400 will begin in March 2023. The XUV300’s waiting period, on the other hand, stretches to a little more than three months at its maximum. 

Mahindra Bolero has the lowest pending bookings 

The Bolero and Bolero Neo sub-4m compact SUVs have combined pending bookings of 9,000. The Bolero Neo has one of the lowest waiting periods in the entire Mahindra SUV line-up of up to two and a half months. The Bolero and Bolero Neo are tough, body-on-frame SUVs targeted mainly at people who require a workhorse to drive over rugged terrains. 

Mahindra to ramp up production

Late last year, Mahindra announced it will be ramping up its production capacity for its popular SUVs to 6 lakh units per annum by Q4 of FY2024, and will be done to reduce the long waiting periods.

As far as individual models go, the production for the Thar will increase from 4,000 units to 6,000 units; for the XUV300, it will go up from 5,000 units to 9,000 units; and for the Scorpio N, the production will go up to 10,000 from the existing 6,000 units. The XUV700 will its production pushed to 10,000 units a month from the current 6,000 units.

For its EVs, Mahindra will be creating a manufacturing capacity of 15,000 to 17,000 units a month, accounting for 20-30 percent of the company's total line-up.

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