At the Auto Expo 2020, Mahindra showcased two electric vehicles, the eKUV100 and eXUV300, in Delhi. For the uninitiated, the brand plans to launch around 13 new models by 2027, including eight electric models. Recently, the brand also registered trademarks for the XUV400 moniker in India. Speculations were that the XUV400 would slot in between the XUV300 and the XUV500. But now, Rajesh Jejurikar, the executive director, auto and farm sectors at Mahindra Group, revealed at a press conference that the brand would name the electric XUV300 as the XUV400. This will help the electric XUV get more distinction from the internal combustion engine counterpart.
In the past when Mahindra registered trademarks for the XUV400 moniker at the intellectual property office. Rumours were that the brand is working on a new 7-seater SUV that will underpin the Mahindra XUV300/Ssangyong Tivoli platform. The XUV400 could have been the larger iteration of the XUV300 as the Tivoli measures 4480mm in length. To save taxes and keep prices competitive, the XUV300 conforms to the sub-4-metre rule measuring 3995mm.
The development of the XUV400 was when Mahindra and Ford had formed a joint venture. However, the project is likely to have been left unfinished, and therefore the brand could possibly use the moniker for its upcoming electric vehicle. What can be confirmed is that the new electric Mahindra will underpin the brand’s latest MESMA platform (Mahindra Electric Scalable and Modular Architecture), featuring a high-voltage architecture.
The eXUV300 showcased at the Auto Expo 2020 was equipped with a large battery enough for a range of 250-300 km on a single charge. This will help the brand compete with the Tata Nexon EV among other electric vehicles, which have a significant market share in India. The new electric SUV is likely to make its debut in the Indian market by 2023.
Also Read: Mahindra’s electric SUV eXUV300 launch in 2023