[AdityaDeane]

A report as per EconomicTimes suggests that Mahindra and Mahindra is in the process to build a new Hatchback and/or Mid-Size Sedan with an Electric Powertrain in the near future. Link

Mahindra & Mahindra, India’s leading SUV specialist, is considering its first ground-up hatchback as part of its plan to have a range of cars to hold its own in the fiercely competitive Indian passenger vehicles market.

Mahindra may tap into the development expertise of Italian design house Pininfarina to plan a hatchback with electric power train, and Ford for a midsized sedan, or it may even plan amid-sized sedan on its own.

Having lost out to Maruti Suzuki in the utility vehicle space, the company doesn’t want to surrender its first-mover advantage in the electric vehicle (EV) space, with Maruti, Hyundai and Toyota eyeing this emerging space.

Pawan Goenka, MD of Mahindra & Mahindra, told ET that the company may develop a product, which will be fired by electric and will be a hatchback. “For shared mobility providers Ola and Uber, a small hatchback makes good economic sense; it will have more pull in the segment,” said Goenka.

Maruti Suzuki and Toyota are likely to roll out their EVs from 2020; Hyundai Motor India too has announced Smart EVs for emerging markets from India in the next few years. Mahindra, as a leader in this space, does not want to lose any territory.

Mahindra will have to invest $110-$120 million on the project if it decides to go ahead with the hatchback plans.

The company is also deliberating whether to go for an electric Verito sedan on its own which will call for an additional investment of `250-`300 crore, or to settle for a joint electric car with Ford on the US carmaker’s Figo or Aspire architecture.

This would take Mahindra’s cumulative investment in EV to beyond $250-300 million which will go into electrifying the SUVs, threewheelers, cars and buses, including investment in battery manufacturing facility and localisation of parts.

The company will have a portfolio of half a dozen vehicles to choose from: first off the block will be the electric version of KUV, the small SUV- S110, which will be followed by another compact electric SUV based on SsangYong platform called S210

On the commercial vehicle front, it has launched the new three-wheelers at the recent Global Automobile Summit — Move in the national capital which runs on electric; Supro, a mini load carrier; and a range of electric buses.

Goenka admitted that selling EVs in India had been much tougher than Mahindra had imagined post the acquisition of Reva in 2010. After pursuing the personal vehicle space, the company changed tack and has started focusing on the commercial, or fleet application.

[GTO]

Well, Mahindra doesn't seem to have done much with their Reva buyout yet. One would have expected them to beat the market of EVs, but it sure seems like others are going to be ahead of them. Period.

Also, would like to point out a factual error in the article:

Mahindra & Mahindra, India’s leading SUV specialist, is considering its first ground-up hatchback

The KUV100 was a ground-up hatchback and pretty good for a first effort.

Having lost out to Maruti Suzuki in the utility vehicle space

It hasn't. The Bolero, Scorpio, XUV500 etc. are still strong sellers. Where others have gained is in the area of unibody / monocoque MPVs / SUVs. Mahindra needs more of them for sure.

[ajmat]

I think Mahindra are still figuring out the mass market. Focus has been on

1: Formula E
2: Understanding the Electric car market globally and figouring out its niche
3: Recently - how can its R&D dovetail into Fords efforts given the recent collaboration agreement

[IshWish]

Off Topic :

Last Month, Indian Smart Grid Forum (ISGF) released a White Paper on " Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Business Models for India".

I want to emphasize on small conclusion mentioned in the report:
Charging station business models that rely solely on direct revenue from EV charging services currently are not financially feasible. The analyses completed for this study focused on DC fast charging stations, capable of charging a Nissan LEAF to 80 percent in less than 30 minutes, and alternating current (AC) Level 2 charging stations, which can fully charge a Nissan LEAF in 3.5 to 7 hours. The analyses show that investment in a single DC fast charging station results in a net loss of more than $44,000 for a private project developer over a 10-year period. Similarly, investment in a charging site with five slower, lower powered, and lower cost alternating current (AC) Level 2 charging stations results in a net loss of more than $26,000 for a private project developer over the same 10-year period.
To build a business case that will attract capital and convince the private sector to invest in EV charging, total revenues must be greater than the project’s total cost, and an acceptable level of profit is
necessary. There are four general ways to improve the financial performance of charging station projects: increase revenues, decrease capital costs, decrease operating costs, and/or decrease the cost of funds for the project. One promising opportunity to improve the financial performance of charging
station investments is to develop business models that, through private partnerships and joint investment strategies, capture other types of business value in addition to selling electricity. This might include tourist revenue for retailers and tourism businesses that get more sales from EV drivers when
located near EV charging stations; automakers selling more EVs; and “clean energy” marketing and brand-strengthening opportunities for businesses visibly involved in EV charging deployment projects.”

It's an interesting read if you want to know more about chargers and where India stands right now in terms of EV Charging Station infrastructure.

Link: http://www.indiasmartgrid.org/report...or%20India.pdf

Source: Indian Smart Grid Forum Website

[Holyghost]

Apart from buying Reva, Mahindra did not seriously invest in the development and R&D of EVs. All they did was bring out e2o which was already designed well before Mahindra took over Reva. That means since 2010, all Mahindra did was create a 4 door contraption of the original e2o. eVerito doesn't even need a mention because there was no market for a medium sedan with tiny under powered motor in an age old car body design.

e2o 2 door had a very good market and it still has a market demand as a second car for city use. But Mahindra never tried to improve the vehicle. The e2o had non existent suspension, lacked any ergonomics for a 8L car. Instead of improving the vehicle, they just lengthened and added 2 more doors to the car while carrying forward rest of the vehicle with no other improvements. Heck, they even killed the 2 door version which had a better market demand, since most people look for in a second city car is the compact dimensions.
Had they constantly improved the vehicle based on feedback, Mahindra Electric story would have been different and they would have been a pioneer in EV vehicles in India.

[rajshenoy]

Originally Posted by IshWish

Off Topic :

Last Month, Indian Smart Grid Forum (ISGF) released a White Paper on " Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Business Models for India".

Erstwhile Reva founder, Mr. Maini seem to be already working on this concept "Sun Mobility" Seem to be a high budget venture.

However i am unable to see any sort of standardisation happening in the space of making plug and play batteries. Heck !! even our smartphones don't allow us to remove and change batteries now.

If this basic problem is solved, then extending the range of EV will be as smooth as refuelling at a pump by just swapping the battery. Also the EV prices will be more VFM

[AdityaDeane]

Originally Posted by GTO

Also, would like to point out a factual error in the article:

The KUV100 was a ground-up hatchback and pretty good for a first effort.

Even though that is factually correct, but Mahindra still calls the KUV100 as a baby SUV and not a Hatchback or Hatchback on Stilts, so I guess the article is not to blame there.

But, agree with you on most points. I just shared what I read for other readers on the forum.

[truezealous]

Mahindra & Mahindra plans to roll out three new electric vehicles

"On the four wheeler portfolio, we only have an electric Verito now, by the end of this year, we will launch the electric KUV, followed by S210 a year later, then an E- Aspire six months after that,"

source