Mahindra has been a consistent and a growing performer in the Indian automotive market over the last decade with other manufacturers taking a page or two from the utility vehicle manufacturer’s success notebook. In the most recent times though, with product lifecycles reduced and competition from other automakers intensified; Mahindra’s strategy needs to be altered to redeem the lost market share. The company now has a product planning strategy that has lined up new products till 2025.
Mahindra has three new platforms in the works that will come along with new variants and refreshes. The company stated that the new products plans are flexible and are based on the understanding of what the competition will offer and what will the customers want till that time. While a specific outline of the new products in still not known, these will be Mahindra’s all-new platforms since the XUV500 and the company will ensure that the new products do not cannibalize the sales of the existing ones.
One of the new platforms will underpin the new S101 compact SUV that is scheduled to launch next year. The sub 4-metre compact SUV will come with newly developed 1.2-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel engine options and will be the smallest SUV from the automaker’s stable and will be competing with the Ford EcoSport and the likes in the segment. The company has also commenced testing the next generation Scorpio in the country that will make its debut in 2016, while the Bolero is also due for an update.
The new and updated Bolero codenamed U301 was caught testing recently by our reader. The new Bolero is expected to get visual upgrades and could use a new hydroformed ladder-frame chassis as well. The new Bolero could be available in a two variants namely a sub 4-metre version to achieve even higher sales along with a longer version as well. The updated Bolero is expected to arrive in 2016.
Mahindra is also making efforts to reduce the product development cycle, considering that the product lifecycle in the market is shrinking. The company started developing its engineering skills when the Scorpio was first launched a decade ago and has come a long way to develop the new S101 SUV. Mahindra has around 2500 engineers working for the company in conjunction with its international technical centres located in USA and Europe. The association with SsangYong has also helped the company grow as the company works its way to establish itself as a global player.
