Mahindra Electric SUVs BE 6e, XEV 9e Break Cover As India’s EV Overdrive Gathers Steam

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. has thrown down a gauntlet of sorts, unveiling its first pure electric SUVs ahead of mass-market rivals Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. and Hyundai Motor India Ltd.

That’s quite a departure from the diesel-guzzling ways of India’s largest SUV maker by revenue.

The BE 6e and XEV 9e are built on the so-called INGLO architecture that is “Indian at heart with a global outlook”. The platform includes components sourced from Volkswagen's MEB chassis, which forms the underpinnings of the Audi and Skoda as well as VW’s ‘ID’ range of electric cars.

The company is confident of achieving five-star crash test safety rating for both BE 6e and XEV 9e.

"Our new logo intertwines infinity with the letter M, signifying unlimited potential," said Mahindra Auto President Veejay Nakra on Mahindra Electric’s new logo.

Mahindra has unveiled Mahindra Artificial Intelligence Architecture for its electric SUVs. The MAIA is the mastermind of the software defined vehicle, the company announced on Tuesday.

The company’s electric SUVs have 30 apps across cloud, UI/UX, Car OS.

Mahindra BE 6e has been launched at Rs 18.90 lakh (ex-showroom). Deliveries will commence towards the end of February or early March 2025.

Mahindra XEV 9e has been launched at Rs 21.90 lakh (ex-showroom). It gets two battery options—79 kWh and 59 kWh.

The full price will be announced at the Bharat Mobility Show in January.

• ⁠INGLO platform is exclusive to both the electric cars.

• Mahindra is using LFP blade cell technology that packs in 59 and 79 kWh of battery in the BE 6e and XEV 9e.

• The 79 kWh battery gives range of 682 km and 656 km for BE 6e and XEV 9e.

• 500+ km real world range ensures you charge the car once a week.

• The 79 kWh battery, which gets 128 LFP blade cells, charges from 20% to 80% in 20 minutes, using a 175 kW DC fast charger.

• 79 kWh battery has been tested for 14,577 hours and 55 lakh+ km.

• The 79 kWh battery gets life-time warranty for the first buyer.

• The BE 6e and XEV 9e make 210 BHP of power and 380 NM of torque.

The unveiling is part of M&M’s plan to launch six thoroughbred electric SUVs by the end of this decade, even as the Mumbai-based automaker stays on its diesel ways. The company plans to invest Rs 12,000 crore in Mahindra Electric Automobile Ltd., which counts British International Investment Plc and Singapore’s Temasek Holdings as investors.

The capital expenditure will allow Mahindra to expedite its slow transition to EVs and catch up with rival Tata Motors Ltd., which has cornered three-fourths of India’s nascent electric car market with at least four models. M&M has one in XUV 4OO.

The unveiling also comes ahead of the launch of mass-market electric SUVs by larger rivals Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. and Hyundai Motor India Ltd. in early 2025. The EVitara and Creta EV will be showcased at the Bharat Mobility Expo 2025 in New Delhi in January 2025.