Latest news with #VelusamyR
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Tesla's entry will raise the bar for EVs in India, says Mahindra's Velusamy R
Tamil Nadu's electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem has come a long way since 2021, when Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) began developing its born-electric SUVs at the Mahindra Research Valley (MRV) near Chennai. In an interview with The Times of India , Velusamy R, President of Automotive Technology and Product Development at M&M, spoke about the transformation of the state's EV landscape and what lies ahead. Velusamy, who set up MRV and now leads M&M's EV strategy, recalled the early days of building the electric SUV platform. 'When we started in 2021, Tamil Nadu's EV ecosystem was in a nascent stage. There was more curiosity than capability,' he said. Supplier partners were only beginning to develop EV-specific expertise, academic institutions hadn't fully pivoted towards EV research, and policy frameworks were still evolving. Despite these limitations, Mahindra invested in building capabilities by collaborating with global experts across Europe, the US, Korea, and the UK to upgrade the skills of its engineering workforce. Over time, MRV became a hub for innovation, enabling the development of the company's electric-origin SUVs and fostering a culture of component and software innovation. Tamil Nadu emerges as a leading EV hub Velusamy highlighted the rapid progress made since then. 'Today, tier-1 and tier-2 suppliers are actively investing in EV technologies, and the state government has provided strong policy support, including road tax exemptions and capital subsidies,' he said. Coimbatore, where Mahindra has established its Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) centre, has become a key location for developing software and electrical architecture for EVs. Velusamy noted that Tamil Nadu's growing charging infrastructure and its strong tech base have been instrumental in building Mahindra's ground-up electric platforms. Competition from Tesla seen as a positive force Responding to Tesla's entry into the Indian market, Velusamy welcomed the competition in the premium EV segment. 'It will raise the bar, but it also drives innovation. As Anand Mahindra said, 'Looking forward to seeing you at the charging station,'' he remarked, adding that while the immediate manufacturing impact may be limited, Tesla's entry sends the right signal to suppliers to align with global standards. He also lauded the Tamil Nadu government's efforts to expand its EV roadmap to include battery recycling and raw material strategies. 'The state is looking at EVs from a full life-cycle perspective, not just from a manufacturing angle,' Velusamy said, adding that other Indian states are also beginning to adopt such comprehensive approaches under central government guidelines. What states need to support EV development On what it takes for a state to become a successful EV product development hub, Velusamy stressed the need for engineering talent, electronics and software supplier networks, battery and cell development capabilities, and strong R&D infrastructure. He believes Tamil Nadu already has a solid foundation in all these areas.
Time of India
20-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Tesla will raise the bar for high-end EVs
Velusamy R is president, automotive technology and product development, at Mahindra and Mahindra. His focus is electric mobility in particular. The man who set up Mahindra Research Valley (on Chennai's outskirts), has turned it into an innovation hub that drives M&M's product development. He now spearheads the EV portfolio, the XUV and BE (born electric) brands. In a conversation with TOI, he spoke about EVs, Tamil Nadu, and the future. Excerpts: MRV is the crucible that birthed M&M's born electric range. When you first started working on this project, what was TN's EV ecosystem like? When we embarked on the development of the electric origin SUV at MRV in 2021, the EV ecosystem in TN was in a nascent stage. It was a moment of curiosity rather than capability. Our supplier partners were still building their EV-specific competencies, academia hadn't fully pivoted toward EV-focused research, and policy frameworks were in the process of evolving. Despite challenges, we recognized untapped potential. At MRV, we had a rich pool of engineers, research scholars, and technocrats. What we needed was to equip them with skills required for cutting-edge EV tech. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Learn How To Write Faster for Work (Find Out Now) Grammarly Learn More Undo To bridge this gap, we collaborated with experts in academia and consultants from Europe, the US, Korea, the UK, and across the globe to develop specialized knowledge and expertise. Over time, MRV transformed into a nucleus of innovation, bringing together engineering talent, fostering component development, and cultivating a culture of innovation. This effort laid the foundation for developing the electric origin SUVs. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai How has the local EV ecosystem evolved? Today, we see tier-1 and tier-2 suppliers investing in EV-specific tech. The govt has backed this with targeted EV policies & TN is becoming a leading EV hub with major global and domestic automotive players investing here. The state is actively expanding its EV charging infrastructure to accelerate EV adoption. The state also continues to offer 100% road tax exemption and capital subsidies, making it a more attractive destination for EVs in India. Cities such as Coimbatore, where our Mahindra Software Defined Vehicle centre is located, are emerging as strong hubs for software development. We have leveraged the local tech base to develop electrical architecture from the ground up and a software-defined vehicle platform for our electric-origin SUVs. With Tesla finally debuting in India, will the battle for high-end luxury EVs heat up? How will it impact the manufacturing and component sourcing ecosystem? The arrival of Tesla will undoubtedly raise the bar, especially in the premium EV segment. But we see this as an opportunity. At Mahindra, competition pushes us to innovate. Chairman Anand Mahindra summed it up perfectly when he welcomed Tesla with a message, "Competition drives innovation. Looking forward (sic) to seeing you at the charging station." While initial local impact on manufacturing may be limited, it sends the right signals encouraging suppliers to scale up and align with global benchmarks. TN govt is looking to expand its EV footprint to include battery scrappage and recycling as well as raw material. Is that the right way? Are other EV hubs in India also doing that? Tamil Nadu's push into battery recycling and scrappage infrastructure shows foresight. The state is looking at EVs not just from a product development and manufacturing lens, but from a full life-cycle perspective. Other states are also taking early steps under the Centre's guidelines, which is encouraging. What are the most critical requirements that a state must have to become an EV product development hub? What more can Tamil Nadu do in this respect? We need strong engineering talent, a robust base in electronics manufacturing and software suppliers, battery & cell development capability, coupled with R&D support. Tamil Nadu already has a solid foundation both in academia as well as the supplier ecosystem.
NZ Autocar
23-06-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
Mahindra preps next-gen Pik-Up
Mahindra has revealed its plans to launch an all-new generation of the Pik-Up, with a focus on bringing a competitive product Down Under. Codenamed Project Z121, the next-gen dual-cab one-tonner is built off the Global Pik Up concept first shown in 2023. It's expected to debut in production form in India later this year, with a launch in export markets like Australia and New Zealand targeted for 2026. This new Pik-Up promises to be a clean-slate redesign, underpinned by a heavily modified version of the ladder-frame chassis used in the new Thar Roxx SUV. Read more First Drive: Mahindra XUV 3XO Mahindra President of Automotive Technology and Product Development, Velusamy R, was reported as saying the new Pik-Up 'Is the number one dream program for us right now. We are putting a big focus on the pick-up truck… it has the most advanced ladder-frame… it is based on the Thar Roxx and that platform is the latest-generation – generation four,' when speaking with Australian media in India earlier in the month. Expect multiple bodystyles, including single and double cab variants, all engineered to meet European and Australian crash safety standards. That means the new Pik-Up will include features like autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, trailer-sway control, driver-attention alert and multiple airbags. Power will likely come from a version of Mahindra's 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel, mated to six-speed auto. Rear-drive and switchable 4×4 drivelines will be offered. Hybrid variants may follow further down the line, with Mahindra already exploring electrified options. One likely option includes a 1.5-litre petrol engine acting as a range extender for an electric drivetrain which is a setup being developed for future Mahindra SUVs. Mahindra's Head of International Operations, Sachin Arolkar, confirmed that the vehicle has been developed with extensive input from Australian stakeholders. 'Our product planning team was in Australia to get the right inputs… that's the change,' he said. 'Now, starting with Z121, we are developing vehicles purely for international markets.' Arolkar noted that while some components may be sourced externally, the engineering and development remain in-house and tailored for real-world reliability.
The Advertiser
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
2025 Mahindra XUV 3XO will have five-star safety for ‘the real world', not ANCAP
Mahindra says its imminent new XUV 3XO small SUV will meet all of the crash requirements to keep its occupants safe in the real world, but it has not been tuned to ANCAP's specific requirements. Having ran afoul of ANCAP's safety assessment standards with its vehicles in the past, notably for reasons such as crushing the barrier in which the Mahindra Scorpio crashed into (in other words, being too safe for its own occupants and not prioritising other vehicles on the road), the 3XO is likely to suffer a similar fate if ANCAP performs its own tests. With the XUV 3XO already having scored 29.36 out of 32 for adult occupant protection and 43/49 for child occupant protection in local NCAP testing, and the fact Mahindra expects it to achieve similar results in Global NCAP testing, the Indian automaker is no doubt looking to establish the small SUV's real-world safety credentials regardless of whether it falls short of ANCAP's box-ticking requirements. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Last week, Mahindra demonstrated a crash test of the upcoming 3XO to Australian media at its newly developed crash testing facility at Chennai in India, to showcase the vehicle's structural rigidity and real-world crashworthiness. This test was conducted to 2026 ANCAP protocols with a moving barrier. According to the company, the 3XO is composed of 30 per cent high-strength steel, 10 per cent ultra-high-strength steel and five per cent advanced high-strength steel. The rest of the vehicle is cast in mild steel. As a comparison, the current generation Nissan X-Trail is made up of around 35 per cent high-strength steel. "In the real world, this is a five-star car," said a Mahindra spokesperson after the 3XO crash test. "You can immediately see the structure is intact. The most important thing is the structure, so you don't see any deformation inside the cage. And the occupants are intact. The airbags are intact." Responding to CarExpert about whether the brand has a desire to develop cars to meet ANCAP requirements, the Mahindra's president of Automotive Technology & Product Development, Velusamy R, said the company is more focused on developing cars to meet actual crash requirements rather than ticking boxes. "I'm not very sure we are struggling on safety, but I would say we may be struggling to meet one of the regulations of the safety [for ANCAP]," Velusamy R said. Mahindra says the 3XO has been designed for the following set of tests: Vehicles coming to Australia will be fitted with Level 2 advanced driver assist systems (ADAS), including: The Mahindra XUV 3XO is set to land in Australia in the coming weeks to compete against the likes of the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro and other popular small SUVs. Although Mahindra will not voluntarily submit an example of the vehicle for ANCAP testing, given the high sales volumes in the small SUV segment there is a good chance the XUV 3XO will be tested by ANCAP regardless. MORE: Everything Mahindra Content originally sourced from: Mahindra says its imminent new XUV 3XO small SUV will meet all of the crash requirements to keep its occupants safe in the real world, but it has not been tuned to ANCAP's specific requirements. Having ran afoul of ANCAP's safety assessment standards with its vehicles in the past, notably for reasons such as crushing the barrier in which the Mahindra Scorpio crashed into (in other words, being too safe for its own occupants and not prioritising other vehicles on the road), the 3XO is likely to suffer a similar fate if ANCAP performs its own tests. With the XUV 3XO already having scored 29.36 out of 32 for adult occupant protection and 43/49 for child occupant protection in local NCAP testing, and the fact Mahindra expects it to achieve similar results in Global NCAP testing, the Indian automaker is no doubt looking to establish the small SUV's real-world safety credentials regardless of whether it falls short of ANCAP's box-ticking requirements. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Last week, Mahindra demonstrated a crash test of the upcoming 3XO to Australian media at its newly developed crash testing facility at Chennai in India, to showcase the vehicle's structural rigidity and real-world crashworthiness. This test was conducted to 2026 ANCAP protocols with a moving barrier. According to the company, the 3XO is composed of 30 per cent high-strength steel, 10 per cent ultra-high-strength steel and five per cent advanced high-strength steel. The rest of the vehicle is cast in mild steel. As a comparison, the current generation Nissan X-Trail is made up of around 35 per cent high-strength steel. "In the real world, this is a five-star car," said a Mahindra spokesperson after the 3XO crash test. "You can immediately see the structure is intact. The most important thing is the structure, so you don't see any deformation inside the cage. And the occupants are intact. The airbags are intact." Responding to CarExpert about whether the brand has a desire to develop cars to meet ANCAP requirements, the Mahindra's president of Automotive Technology & Product Development, Velusamy R, said the company is more focused on developing cars to meet actual crash requirements rather than ticking boxes. "I'm not very sure we are struggling on safety, but I would say we may be struggling to meet one of the regulations of the safety [for ANCAP]," Velusamy R said. Mahindra says the 3XO has been designed for the following set of tests: Vehicles coming to Australia will be fitted with Level 2 advanced driver assist systems (ADAS), including: The Mahindra XUV 3XO is set to land in Australia in the coming weeks to compete against the likes of the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro and other popular small SUVs. Although Mahindra will not voluntarily submit an example of the vehicle for ANCAP testing, given the high sales volumes in the small SUV segment there is a good chance the XUV 3XO will be tested by ANCAP regardless. MORE: Everything Mahindra Content originally sourced from: Mahindra says its imminent new XUV 3XO small SUV will meet all of the crash requirements to keep its occupants safe in the real world, but it has not been tuned to ANCAP's specific requirements. Having ran afoul of ANCAP's safety assessment standards with its vehicles in the past, notably for reasons such as crushing the barrier in which the Mahindra Scorpio crashed into (in other words, being too safe for its own occupants and not prioritising other vehicles on the road), the 3XO is likely to suffer a similar fate if ANCAP performs its own tests. With the XUV 3XO already having scored 29.36 out of 32 for adult occupant protection and 43/49 for child occupant protection in local NCAP testing, and the fact Mahindra expects it to achieve similar results in Global NCAP testing, the Indian automaker is no doubt looking to establish the small SUV's real-world safety credentials regardless of whether it falls short of ANCAP's box-ticking requirements. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Last week, Mahindra demonstrated a crash test of the upcoming 3XO to Australian media at its newly developed crash testing facility at Chennai in India, to showcase the vehicle's structural rigidity and real-world crashworthiness. This test was conducted to 2026 ANCAP protocols with a moving barrier. According to the company, the 3XO is composed of 30 per cent high-strength steel, 10 per cent ultra-high-strength steel and five per cent advanced high-strength steel. The rest of the vehicle is cast in mild steel. As a comparison, the current generation Nissan X-Trail is made up of around 35 per cent high-strength steel. "In the real world, this is a five-star car," said a Mahindra spokesperson after the 3XO crash test. "You can immediately see the structure is intact. The most important thing is the structure, so you don't see any deformation inside the cage. And the occupants are intact. The airbags are intact." Responding to CarExpert about whether the brand has a desire to develop cars to meet ANCAP requirements, the Mahindra's president of Automotive Technology & Product Development, Velusamy R, said the company is more focused on developing cars to meet actual crash requirements rather than ticking boxes. "I'm not very sure we are struggling on safety, but I would say we may be struggling to meet one of the regulations of the safety [for ANCAP]," Velusamy R said. Mahindra says the 3XO has been designed for the following set of tests: Vehicles coming to Australia will be fitted with Level 2 advanced driver assist systems (ADAS), including: The Mahindra XUV 3XO is set to land in Australia in the coming weeks to compete against the likes of the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro and other popular small SUVs. Although Mahindra will not voluntarily submit an example of the vehicle for ANCAP testing, given the high sales volumes in the small SUV segment there is a good chance the XUV 3XO will be tested by ANCAP regardless. MORE: Everything Mahindra Content originally sourced from: Mahindra says its imminent new XUV 3XO small SUV will meet all of the crash requirements to keep its occupants safe in the real world, but it has not been tuned to ANCAP's specific requirements. Having ran afoul of ANCAP's safety assessment standards with its vehicles in the past, notably for reasons such as crushing the barrier in which the Mahindra Scorpio crashed into (in other words, being too safe for its own occupants and not prioritising other vehicles on the road), the 3XO is likely to suffer a similar fate if ANCAP performs its own tests. With the XUV 3XO already having scored 29.36 out of 32 for adult occupant protection and 43/49 for child occupant protection in local NCAP testing, and the fact Mahindra expects it to achieve similar results in Global NCAP testing, the Indian automaker is no doubt looking to establish the small SUV's real-world safety credentials regardless of whether it falls short of ANCAP's box-ticking requirements. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Last week, Mahindra demonstrated a crash test of the upcoming 3XO to Australian media at its newly developed crash testing facility at Chennai in India, to showcase the vehicle's structural rigidity and real-world crashworthiness. This test was conducted to 2026 ANCAP protocols with a moving barrier. According to the company, the 3XO is composed of 30 per cent high-strength steel, 10 per cent ultra-high-strength steel and five per cent advanced high-strength steel. The rest of the vehicle is cast in mild steel. As a comparison, the current generation Nissan X-Trail is made up of around 35 per cent high-strength steel. "In the real world, this is a five-star car," said a Mahindra spokesperson after the 3XO crash test. "You can immediately see the structure is intact. The most important thing is the structure, so you don't see any deformation inside the cage. And the occupants are intact. The airbags are intact." Responding to CarExpert about whether the brand has a desire to develop cars to meet ANCAP requirements, the Mahindra's president of Automotive Technology & Product Development, Velusamy R, said the company is more focused on developing cars to meet actual crash requirements rather than ticking boxes. "I'm not very sure we are struggling on safety, but I would say we may be struggling to meet one of the regulations of the safety [for ANCAP]," Velusamy R said. Mahindra says the 3XO has been designed for the following set of tests: Vehicles coming to Australia will be fitted with Level 2 advanced driver assist systems (ADAS), including: The Mahindra XUV 3XO is set to land in Australia in the coming weeks to compete against the likes of the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro and other popular small SUVs. Although Mahindra will not voluntarily submit an example of the vehicle for ANCAP testing, given the high sales volumes in the small SUV segment there is a good chance the XUV 3XO will be tested by ANCAP regardless. MORE: Everything Mahindra Content originally sourced from:
The Advertiser
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Next-gen Mahindra Thar-like vehicle confirmed for Australia
While Mahindra states that it cannot produce the current-generation Thar and Thar Roxx in sufficient numbers to meet demand in its domestic Indian market, let alone Australia, it has promised that a next-generation off-road vehicle like the Thar is in development for our market. Speaking to Australian media in India last week, Velusamy R, the president of Automotive Technology and Product Development at Mahindra, stated that current local demand for the Thar is almost double the company's production capacity. "Demand is now 12-13,000 per month in India, [but] our production is hardly 7-6000, roughly," Velusamy R said. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "We also thought [demand for] the three-door Thar might come down after introducing the five-door, however, it didn't come down. Still, there is enough market for three-door Thar, and the capacity for three-door is still fully occupied." While he ruled out the current model for our market, Velusamy R confirmed that a new vehicle that will be very similar to the Mahindra Vision Thar.e concept (pictured here) unveiled in South Africa in August 2023 will be coming to Australia. "The name can be different, but what you saw in South Africa, you will get it in Australia" Although the Mahindra Vision Thar.e is a fully electric off-roader concept that looks nothing like the combustion-powered Thar revealed in 2020, the version heading to Australia will be available with internal combustion engines as standard, and potentially hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains as well. It is unclear whether a fully-electric version of the model will also head to our market, but it seems unlikely. The current-generation Thar, which controversially resembles a Jeep Wrangler, has its origins in the original CJ-series Jeep, which the company had been producing under license since the 1940s. The Stellantis group, which owns Jeep, has gone out of its way to stop Mahindra from bringing the current Thar to our market in the past. Back in 2021, Mahindra was issued a "cease and desist" request from Stellantis following its plans to bring the Thar to Australia, with the American company stating that it would "pursue all available avenues to stop Mahindra from continuing to make misleading and deceptive representations in relation to our Jeep brand, pass off their Thar as a Jeep Wrangler and infringe our design rights". Given that Mahindra says the concept is very close to what the production model will look like, the new model heading to Australia in the coming years will appear very different to the Wrangler, which means Stellantis won't have to worry about it offending the 724 Australians who bought a Wrangler in 2024. MORE: Everything Mahindra Content originally sourced from: While Mahindra states that it cannot produce the current-generation Thar and Thar Roxx in sufficient numbers to meet demand in its domestic Indian market, let alone Australia, it has promised that a next-generation off-road vehicle like the Thar is in development for our market. Speaking to Australian media in India last week, Velusamy R, the president of Automotive Technology and Product Development at Mahindra, stated that current local demand for the Thar is almost double the company's production capacity. "Demand is now 12-13,000 per month in India, [but] our production is hardly 7-6000, roughly," Velusamy R said. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "We also thought [demand for] the three-door Thar might come down after introducing the five-door, however, it didn't come down. Still, there is enough market for three-door Thar, and the capacity for three-door is still fully occupied." While he ruled out the current model for our market, Velusamy R confirmed that a new vehicle that will be very similar to the Mahindra Vision Thar.e concept (pictured here) unveiled in South Africa in August 2023 will be coming to Australia. "The name can be different, but what you saw in South Africa, you will get it in Australia" Although the Mahindra Vision Thar.e is a fully electric off-roader concept that looks nothing like the combustion-powered Thar revealed in 2020, the version heading to Australia will be available with internal combustion engines as standard, and potentially hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains as well. It is unclear whether a fully-electric version of the model will also head to our market, but it seems unlikely. The current-generation Thar, which controversially resembles a Jeep Wrangler, has its origins in the original CJ-series Jeep, which the company had been producing under license since the 1940s. The Stellantis group, which owns Jeep, has gone out of its way to stop Mahindra from bringing the current Thar to our market in the past. Back in 2021, Mahindra was issued a "cease and desist" request from Stellantis following its plans to bring the Thar to Australia, with the American company stating that it would "pursue all available avenues to stop Mahindra from continuing to make misleading and deceptive representations in relation to our Jeep brand, pass off their Thar as a Jeep Wrangler and infringe our design rights". Given that Mahindra says the concept is very close to what the production model will look like, the new model heading to Australia in the coming years will appear very different to the Wrangler, which means Stellantis won't have to worry about it offending the 724 Australians who bought a Wrangler in 2024. MORE: Everything Mahindra Content originally sourced from: While Mahindra states that it cannot produce the current-generation Thar and Thar Roxx in sufficient numbers to meet demand in its domestic Indian market, let alone Australia, it has promised that a next-generation off-road vehicle like the Thar is in development for our market. Speaking to Australian media in India last week, Velusamy R, the president of Automotive Technology and Product Development at Mahindra, stated that current local demand for the Thar is almost double the company's production capacity. "Demand is now 12-13,000 per month in India, [but] our production is hardly 7-6000, roughly," Velusamy R said. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "We also thought [demand for] the three-door Thar might come down after introducing the five-door, however, it didn't come down. Still, there is enough market for three-door Thar, and the capacity for three-door is still fully occupied." While he ruled out the current model for our market, Velusamy R confirmed that a new vehicle that will be very similar to the Mahindra Vision Thar.e concept (pictured here) unveiled in South Africa in August 2023 will be coming to Australia. "The name can be different, but what you saw in South Africa, you will get it in Australia" Although the Mahindra Vision Thar.e is a fully electric off-roader concept that looks nothing like the combustion-powered Thar revealed in 2020, the version heading to Australia will be available with internal combustion engines as standard, and potentially hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains as well. It is unclear whether a fully-electric version of the model will also head to our market, but it seems unlikely. The current-generation Thar, which controversially resembles a Jeep Wrangler, has its origins in the original CJ-series Jeep, which the company had been producing under license since the 1940s. The Stellantis group, which owns Jeep, has gone out of its way to stop Mahindra from bringing the current Thar to our market in the past. Back in 2021, Mahindra was issued a "cease and desist" request from Stellantis following its plans to bring the Thar to Australia, with the American company stating that it would "pursue all available avenues to stop Mahindra from continuing to make misleading and deceptive representations in relation to our Jeep brand, pass off their Thar as a Jeep Wrangler and infringe our design rights". Given that Mahindra says the concept is very close to what the production model will look like, the new model heading to Australia in the coming years will appear very different to the Wrangler, which means Stellantis won't have to worry about it offending the 724 Australians who bought a Wrangler in 2024. MORE: Everything Mahindra Content originally sourced from: While Mahindra states that it cannot produce the current-generation Thar and Thar Roxx in sufficient numbers to meet demand in its domestic Indian market, let alone Australia, it has promised that a next-generation off-road vehicle like the Thar is in development for our market. Speaking to Australian media in India last week, Velusamy R, the president of Automotive Technology and Product Development at Mahindra, stated that current local demand for the Thar is almost double the company's production capacity. "Demand is now 12-13,000 per month in India, [but] our production is hardly 7-6000, roughly," Velusamy R said. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "We also thought [demand for] the three-door Thar might come down after introducing the five-door, however, it didn't come down. Still, there is enough market for three-door Thar, and the capacity for three-door is still fully occupied." While he ruled out the current model for our market, Velusamy R confirmed that a new vehicle that will be very similar to the Mahindra Vision Thar.e concept (pictured here) unveiled in South Africa in August 2023 will be coming to Australia. "The name can be different, but what you saw in South Africa, you will get it in Australia" Although the Mahindra Vision Thar.e is a fully electric off-roader concept that looks nothing like the combustion-powered Thar revealed in 2020, the version heading to Australia will be available with internal combustion engines as standard, and potentially hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains as well. It is unclear whether a fully-electric version of the model will also head to our market, but it seems unlikely. The current-generation Thar, which controversially resembles a Jeep Wrangler, has its origins in the original CJ-series Jeep, which the company had been producing under license since the 1940s. The Stellantis group, which owns Jeep, has gone out of its way to stop Mahindra from bringing the current Thar to our market in the past. Back in 2021, Mahindra was issued a "cease and desist" request from Stellantis following its plans to bring the Thar to Australia, with the American company stating that it would "pursue all available avenues to stop Mahindra from continuing to make misleading and deceptive representations in relation to our Jeep brand, pass off their Thar as a Jeep Wrangler and infringe our design rights". Given that Mahindra says the concept is very close to what the production model will look like, the new model heading to Australia in the coming years will appear very different to the Wrangler, which means Stellantis won't have to worry about it offending the 724 Australians who bought a Wrangler in 2024. MORE: Everything Mahindra Content originally sourced from:
