Mahindra XUV300 electric launch will take place by March 2023, 8 electric SUVs planned
Mahindra will launch the electric version of its entry-level compact SUV, XUV300, by March next year. It will, most probably, be the UV manufacturer’s first EV venture after not tasting success with the REVAi, e2o, and eVerito electric cars.
The upcoming electric XUV300 will not be restricted to the current car’s under-4-metre length but rather be longer at around 4.2 metres to accommodate the electric powertrain, and be high on space and features. It will take the fight against the current EV leader, Tata Nexon.
As the car exceeds 4 metres in length, it will lose out on the sub-4 metre tax benefits and will command a premium that also includes the increased costs of the electric powertrain just like the Nexon’s electric variant. We expect a price tag of around Rs. 20 lakhs (ex-showroom).
Just around 10 days ago, Mahindra signed a partnership with Volkswagen wherein it will start exploring the options of using Volkswagen Group’s Modular Electric Drive Matrix (MEB) platform and components for its upcoming electric cars.
As per the recent agreement, Mahindra intends to equip its Born Electric platform with MEB electric components such as electric motors, system components, and battery packs.
The agreement says that there would be binding rules for the evaluation phase as well as the non-binding scope for supply. The binding supply agreement could, however, be negotiated in a continued constructive and legally compliant way by this year.
It must be seen whether Mahindra will adopt Volkswagen’s platform for the XUV electric or not. The car maker revealed that it aims to become the number 1 UV maker by 2025 and plans to launch as many as 13 SUVs in the next 5 years.
Of these, Mahindra said, 8 would be electric. And, of the 8 electric SUVs, 4 will be completely new models and their launch will take place between 2025 and 2027, the manufacturer said.
Earlier this year, Mahindra gave a glimpse of its upcoming Born Electric platform which will soon sprawl into 3 all-electric cars, most probably, SUVs.
Conceptualised at the Mahindra Advanced Design Studio in the UK headed by Pratap Bose, the 3-car lineup will be revealed in their concept form coming July.
The company assured that Thar, Bolero, XUV, and Scorpio will remain as its core models even if new ones get launched. It will invest Rs. 1900 crores for capacity expansion including EVs in the next couple of years.
While the XUV300, Bolero, and Thar are manufactured at its Nashik plant, the XUV 700, which commands a huge 18-24 months waiting period, and the upcoming Scorpio are manufactured at its Chakan plant.