The SUV segment is facing increasing heat from a growing number of competitors vying for a share of the lucrative pie. Mahindra & Mahindra, the traditional king of UVs from India is also feeling the mounting pressure now and has promised to bolster its position with the launch of four new utility vehicles across the world over the next four years. The company has also decided to allocate over INR 5,000 crore for getting the vehicles and the production facilities ready.
Talking to The Times of India, Pawan Goenka, the Managing Director of the company revealed details about the upcoming launches. The first vehicle to spawn off the company’s assembly line will be a 7-seater MPV that would rival the likes of the popular Innova Crysta. We have already seen multiple test versions of the MPV and know that it will take on a premium stance with beige interiors and alloy wheels.
The next vehicle to roll out of the company’s floors will be an iteration of the Ssangyong Tivoli compact SUV. The 5-seater car will go up against the Maruti Vitara Brezza, Hyundai Creta and the Ford Ecosport when it is launched in late 2018 or early 2019. It remains unclear whether the company will stick with the Korean badge or will slap a Mahindra face on the Tivoli.
Goenka also confirmed that the company was working on a global SUV platform that could give birth to multiple premium offerings. The first full-size SUV would be targeted at the international markets and would try to capture the premium segment there when it rolls out in 2020.
Meanwhile, the domestic market is likely to receive a slightly less premium off-spring of the platform. Mahindra said that they are looking to reveal this vehicle by 2021. Goenka said, “We are looking at an overall growth in the passenger vehicles category, and the new products are aimed at strengthening our position.”
Along with these four products, it has come to light that the Indian auto-major is also in the final nominees being considered for a USD six billion contract laid out by the US Post to replace its aging fleet. The company will be delivering 14 prototypes for final testing by November. If selected, Mahindra would be responsible to provide 1.8 lakh vehicles to the exchequer over 6 years and a maintenance package is also likely.