Currently, Mahindra’s export operations span South Africa, the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Nepal. Europe, more specifically, the UK, where Mahindra has a design studio, is a market that remains untapped. However, we understand that the company is working on specific variants of the BE 6 and XEV 9e for the UK. Specific codes have been assigned to the project, though, for now, not much else is known. These SUVs could either be the tweaked versions of the BE 6 and XEV 9e or have significantly altered models with different body styles, albeit based on the same INGLO platform.
- India-UK FTA will increase the value proposition of Mahindra EV exports
- Mahindra NU_IQ SUVs are engineered to meet Euro NCAP norms
Mahindra INGLO SUVs export to the UK and Europe
Mahindra to leverage India-UK Free Trade Agreement
The European Union and the UK have aggressive EV plans, with the former targeting zero emissions from new cars and vans by 2035 and the latter aiming to have electric vehicles account for 80 percent of total car sales. Chinese players like BYD, Leapmotor, MG Motor and Haval have already entered the UK with value offerings. This is where Mahindra’s new range of EVs could hold promise, with technically sound but value-driven products. The India-UK FTA will also make exports easier, adding to the value proposition.
Mahindra NU_IQ SUVs export potential
Mahindra’s NU_IQ platform-based SUVs meet Euro, Australian and Bharat NCAP standards
Despite Europe’s aggressive EV plans, sales of electric cars, like in the rest of the world, have not been as fast as expected. Many brands are revisiting ICE programmes; even Mercedes is in advanced talks with BMW to use a four-cylinder petrol engine. This is where Mahindra’s new NU_IQ-based products come in. The platform is modular and flexible, capable of accommodating multiple powertrain options, including ICE, electric and hybrid. Regarding the potential for exports to the UK and Europe, the company did allude to this, with R Velusamy, president, Automotive Business, Mahindra, saying, “The platform is already engineered for stringent Europe NCAP norms, in addition to Australian NCAP and Bharat NCAP.
While it would seem that Eastern Europe would be an easier market for Mahindra to take on first, targeting the UK has its advantages. It will force the brand to engineer its products to meet a higher customer demand and regulatory norms. Further, as mentioned above, Mahindra also operates a design studio in the UK, which enables the SUV specialist to get a pulse on the market, from customer preferences to government policy.
Hormazd Sorabjee
Anurag Chaturvedi
