Mahindra's Chakan plant has produced its three millionth vehicle, a BE 6 electric SUV.
The latest one million units were built in just 27 months, far quicker than earlier milestones.
Mahindra & Mahindra has reached a significant production landmark at its Chakan facility in Maharashtra, with the plant rolling out its three millionth vehicle. Fittingly, the car that marked the occasion was a BE 6, the company's born electric SUV that has come to represent Mahindra's push into the EV space. The milestone says as much about the plant's flexibility as it does about the electric vehicle itself, since Chakan continues to build a mix of combustion and battery powered models side by side.
The Chakan plant began operations back in December 2009, and it has grown steadily since to become one of Mahindra's most important manufacturing bases. What stands out about this latest achievement is the pace at which it arrived.
The most recent one million vehicles rolled off the line in just 27 months, a stark contrast to the 107 months it took to reach the very first million. That shift reflects how sharply demand for Mahindra's SUVs has climbed in recent years, alongside improvements made on the shop floor itself.
A Plant Built For Flexibility
Spread across 657 acres, Chakan currently produces 19 models and over 450 variants, spanning passenger vehicles, electric SUVs and commercial vehicles. Seven assembly lines run through the facility, giving Mahindra the ability to build several different products using the same infrastructure rather than dedicating lines to single models.
The plant has also leaned heavily into modern manufacturing tools. Technologies such as Industry 4.0 Artificial Intelligence, IoT sensors, 5G connectivity and digital traceability now run through daily operations.
Roughly 1,500 robots work across the facility, and the body shop runs at more than 98 percent automation. Robotic painting, automated sealer application, 3D scanning of components and real time monitoring of weld quality all help keep output consistent as volumes rise.
Sustainability Runs Through Operations
Mahindra was keen to point out that sustainability sits at the centre of how Chakan operates. More than half the plant's energy needs come from renewable sources, and every bit of the EV manufacturing process runs on 100 percent renewable power.
Water use tells a similar story. The plant is water positive, returning 131 percent of what it consumes back to nature through rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge efforts.
Chakan has also earned Zero Waste to Landfill certification. Beyond serving buyers at home, vehicles built here are shipped abroad to markets including South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
Speaking on the achievement, R Velusamy, President, Automotive Business at Mahindra & Mahindra, said the shrinking time between each successive million vehicles reflects both growing customer demand and steady gains in manufacturing efficiency. He added that Chakan will remain central to Mahindra's plan of building globally competitive products out of India, for buyers at home and abroad alike.
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