Mahindra, Volkswagen EV agreement formalised

MAHINDRA and Volkswagen have this week signed their first supply agreement on components of VW’s MEB platform for use in Mahindra’s purpose-built Inglo-based electric vehicle line-up.

The move marks what the duo says is a “definitive step” for the Indian-German alliance and says it is one that covers the supply of certain electric components and battery cells aimed at further deepening the collaboration initiated in 2022.

Mahindra will be the first external partner to utilise VW’s unified cell concept, the core of Volkswagen’s battery strategy. The supply agreement will run over several years and will amount to a total volume of about 50GWh over lifetime.

It is understood the collaboration will assist Mahindra in strengthening its e-mobility footprint in the Indian automotive market and accelerate EV uptake in the region. With more than five million new vehicles sold per annum, the Indian market is one of the largest automotive markets in the world.

The Indian manufacturer plans to launch five all-electric SUVs based on its Inglo platform from the end of this year, likely under the BE (Born Electric) brand.

The Inglo program comes in part from the result of a $250 million cash injection from British International Investment and shared componentry and technologies from the Volkswagen Group joint venture.

Volkswagen’s MEB platform and related components are used throughout Volkswagen Group brands, including in Audi, Cupra, Seat and Skoda models, as well as in partner vehicles from Ford and Mahindra.

VW says the partnership with Mahindra is led by the Volkswagen Technology Group and its Platform Business unit in close cooperation with Skoda Auto Volkswagen India.

Speaking to GoAuto in India last year, Mahindra president of automotive technology and product development Ramasamy Velusamy said the Born Electric range is one the firm hopes will hold appeal in India and across Mahindra’s export markets, with Australia a likely destination for its future EV models.

“Right now, our major focus is to get the platform development done and integrate the multitude of technologies it requires to operate effectively right, because we want to get this absolutely right,” he said.

“We are almost completely new to electric, and we will get this product into the domestic market in parallel with the start of BEVs into export markets.”

Mr Velusamy detailed the progress of his team’s electrification strategy, saying collaboration with one of the world’s “key players” in the electric vehicle space had helped Mahindra realise its dream of developing an all-electric range, beginning with the e8 and e9 models he says will provide an electrified alternative to the XUV700 in SUV and coupe-SUV body styles.

“There are three or four key players (with which Mahindra had hoped to collaborate). Tesla is the main player, then you have BYD from China, and VW with their ID range. Of those, VW is the one who came forward to say they are willing to share electric technologies,” he revealed.

“Volkswagen is a very reliable electric brand and will help us to jumpstart our electric future … we will use some of the motors, and a battery cell that we acquired from them.”

The collaboration with Volkswagen aims to yield more than one million vehicle units over its lifetime, the components shared with Mahindra common to those of the German marque’s MEB platform.