Mahindra's blueprint for the future

Mahindra’s blueprint for the future, to launch 3 new platforms by ‘2025’.

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India’s largest utility vehicle manufacturer is altering its strategy to take on its rivals after losing over 5% market share to the competition. The company now has a product pipeline that stretches until 2022-2025.

Mr Pawan Goenka, executive director of Mahindra & Mahindra in a conversation with the Economic Times has revealed that the advantages local manufacturers like M&M enjoyed in the past of low cost etc, have disappeared as the global giants have now located their manufacturing bases in India.

Mr Goenka further added that the company now needs to look at things differently as product life cycles are shortening, becoming more dynamic, and they do not have the luxury anymore for a product to remain successful in the market for a long time. A feat they did manage to accomplish with the Scorpio.

On being asked about immediate growth plans, Mr Goenka spoke about three new platforms on the automotive side and one platform on the farm equipment side to be launched in the next two years. He also stressed on the importance of these new products to become a large portion of M&M’s volume ensuring profitability, while at the same time not cannibalizing existing products to a large extent.

So you must be wondering which these three new platforms are? The hawks amongst us would know of the S101 compact SUV platform spied a few times now, which spy shots confirm is sub-4 meter in length and is the first new platform from Mahindra since the XUV 500, in addition the S101 should also introduce us to a Mahindra developed 1.2 litre petrol engine.

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Amongst the new launches should also be a replacement for the ‘Best Selling SUV in India’, the Bolero. Codenamed ‘U301’, the test mule sports a vertical grille, inspired by the ‘SCORPIO’ and the ‘XUV500’, while towards the rear, it now adorns the Scorpio’s tail lights and an external spare wheel. The new Bolero has been reported to be based on a hydroformed ladder frame chassis, while Mahindra might also explore the possibility of launching two variants, one measuring sub-4 meters, the other longer than that. The sub-4 meter might share its power plant with 3 cylinder 1.5 liter engine from the Quanto.

Amongst these launches should be an eagerly awaited, refreshed Scorpio, expected to be launched during the festival season. The refreshed model, will have a completely redesigned front, including a new grille, updated bumper and a possibility of projector headlamps, while rear lamps are now LED’s as confirmed in the spy pictures.

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Interiors have undergone a cosmetic surgery too, which includes an all new dashboard, instrument cluster, centre console, an infotainment system and fabrics, while the steering wheel is a straight lift from the XUV.

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The powertrain might remain unchanged though and we hope the refreshed version comes with further tweaks to make the ride and handling package even better.

Source: ET

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