Mahindra has been extensively testing the next-generation XUV500 and the Scorpio for the Indian market. Speculations were that Mahindra will introduce the XUV500 during the festive season in 2020, but that did not happen. Now in a media interview, Mahindra Auto CEO Veejay Nakhra confirms that the XUV500 and the Scorpio will launch in Q2 (June-July) and around Diwali of 2021, respectively. The next-generation Mahindra XUV500 will launch first followed by the Scorpio around the 2021 festive season.
While COVID-19 pandemic and the associated lockdown, the supply chain disruption, as well as the suspension in the manufacturing sector, played a very important role in the delay of the launch timeline, the current situation with the shortage of semiconductor chips, which is a global phenomenon, could be possibly making the situations worse. The brand is currently concentrating on fulfilling the backlogged orders of the Thar SUV and due to the semiconductor shortage and the high demand for the SUV, the waiting period is still in months in certain markets.
The Mahindra XUV500 is likely to come with a lot of features such as LED headlamps, LED DRLs, LED taillamps, a radar unit on the bumper and an array of sensors and cameras on the windscreen leading us to believe that the SUV could get ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, forward collision warning and mitigation, automatic headlamps, rain-sensing wipers etc. Interiors spy shots also reveal premium twin-screen displays with a large touchscreen infotainment system, soft-touch materials on the dashboard, flat-bottomed steering with controls, rotary air conditioning controls and three rows of forward-facing seats.
The Mahindra Scorpio is also likely to come with all-new exteriors and interiors LED headlamps and taillamps, LED DRLs, latest-generation touchscreen infotainment screen with the latest telematics, connected car tech, three rows of forward-facing seats, driving modes and cruise control, latest-generation steering wheel with controls etc.