Mahindra may launch Pininfarina-designed electric SUV

Could arrive by 2021.

Mahindra has several new models currently under consideration, including electric vehicles. A new report from Economic Times says that the company is developing 3-4 electric vehicles in the INR 8-10 lakh price bracket. These new EVs may include an electric SUV with design inputs from the Italian design firm Pininfarina in which the Indian automaker holds a controlling stake.

Speaking about making an electric SUV to the business publication, Pawan Goenka, Managing Director, Mahindra & Mahindra, said: "(The) dream is to work on a Pinifarina SUV which is moving on an electric powertrain, but we are probably 3-4 years from that, we are still starting on that."

The company is focusing heavily on vehicles that can garner fleet sales from popular cab companies like Ola and Uber. The EVs need to have affordable pricing, because unlike many countries going aggressive on EVs with a subsidy of US$10,000, India has only about US$2,000 offered in subsidy, he explained. Their sales must hit big numbers, perhaps in thousands, to help notably in curbing pollution.

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Besides EVs, Mahindra has four mainstream models in the pipeline. The first is a new MPV, set to roll-out as the first vehicle developed by the Mahindra North American Technical Centre (MNATC), codenamed 'Mahindra U321'. The second model is a new sub-compact SUV (codename: Mahindra S201) which will ride on the SsangYong Tivoli's X100 platform. A new mid-size SUV based on the next-gen SsangYong Rexton (codename: SsangYong Y400) is also planned. Lastly, an all-new Mahindra Thar was recently confirmed.

[Source: Economic Times]