Indian automaker Mahindra has announced its ambitious plan to launch nine new internal combustion engine (ICE) SUVs and seven new-born electric vehicles (BEVs) in the Indian market by 2030. Out of the nine ICE SUVs, three will be mid-cycle updates for existing models, while the remaining six will be completely new offerings.
One of the highly anticipated new SUVs is the Thar 5-door, which might be named Thar Armada upon debut. It is expected to share its underpinnings and powertrains with the Scorpio N and Thar 3-door models. The Thar 5-door could come with three engine options. The Scorpio pickup, showcased as a concept last year, will likely be launched initially in South Africa and then introduced in other international markets before arriving in India.
Mahindra is also developing an all-new U171 platform, which will serve as the basis for the upcoming Bolero SUV and its seven-seat variant. Additionally, sources hint at the brand's planning to introduce several more SUV body styles and pickups on this platform.
While details about other forthcoming ICE SUVs from Mahindra are scarce, it is expected that two of the mid-cycle updates mentioned by the company will be for the XUV700 and Scorpio N models. The XUV700 was launched in August 2021, and the Scorpio N hit the Indian market in June 2022. However, there is no specific timeline provided for these refreshes. Notably, Mahindra has recently trademarked the names XUV 7XO, XUV 1XO, and XUV 5XO, but no information is available regarding these models.
In terms of electric vehicles, Mahindra has a strong focus on its upcoming BEV lineup. The company plans to introduce these born-electric SUVs, based on the INGLO platform, by the end of this year or early next year. The models showcased earlier, such as the XUV.e8, XUV.e9 coupe, and BE.05 SUV, will be among the initial offerings from Mahindra's BEV range. Alongside the born-EV lineup, Mahindra is also working on an electric version of the Thar, which was previously previewed as a concept.
The battery sizes of these EVs will range from 60-80kWh, with fast-charging capabilities of up to 175kW. This means that the battery can be charged up to 80 percent in less than 30 minutes, depending on the specific model. Mahindra estimates that an 80kWh battery should offer a driving range of approximately 435km to 450km under the WLTP cycle. The new electric SUVs will be available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations, depending on the model.
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