The utility and passenger vehicle maker, Mahindra is developing a brand new Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV) on the platform of its Mahindra Maxximo. The Mahindra Maxximo is a light pick-up truck that the company sells in the Indian market and rivals with the Tata Ace. The Mahindra Maxximo portfolio includes the light pick-up truck and a minivan. The vehicle is currently being developed at the Mahindra Research Valley based in Chennai.
A source close to the development of the model said that developing an MPV based on the truck platform is slightly difficult since there has to be a lot of changes made to the areas power and transmission. A timeline for the development has not been frozen yet and the developing is still rumoured to be in its nascent stages. A passenger van on the Mahindra Maxximo platform is also expected to be production ready by the end of this fiscal.
Off late, the Indian automotive market has seen a heavy demand for the MPVs and MUVs. The segment which once used to contribute only 2% of the total sales volumes now command close to 11-12% of the total sales volumes. Other MPVs in the pipeline due to get launched in India include the Nissan-Ashok Leyland Evalia and the Chevrolet Enjoy.
Source – DNA India