Mahindra Announces Two Electric Vehicle Brands And Five New Concept eSUVs

Last Updated on August 17, 2022 by Ajinkya Bhoir

Indian auto manufacturer, Mahindra & Mahindra, announced its two new electric vehicle sub-brands, XUV and BE, on the occasion of India’s 75th Independence day. It unveiled a total of five new electric SUVs, which will be sold under the two new entities. The XUV brand with the copper “Twin Peaks” logo will get two electrified models based on the already available XUV700 vehicle. The “BE” brand stands for Born Electrics and will be ground-up EVs. This brand will spawn three electric SUVs and will come with a completely distinct styling from the current crop of Mahindras.  

Mahindra’s New INGLO Platform

Mahindra also introduced its new “INGLO” EV platform, where “IN” stands for India and “GLO” stands for global. It is essentially an EV skateboard platform, similar to Hyundai’s E-GMP platform, which underpins the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, Kia EV6, and the likes. The skateboard EV platforms can be extended or shortened to produce various body styles.

Moreover, the battery is placed on the floor, allowing for a lower centre of gravity. It supports front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive applications. Also, there’s no transmission tunnel, which liberates interior space for the rear passengers. 

When it comes to the motors, Mahindra’s new range of EVs will be offered in single-motor and dual-motor configurations, with 228-282 BHP and 335-389 BHP respectively. They will come with battery packs from 60kWh to 80kWh. The vehicles will support up to 175W fast charging and are claimed to go from 5 percent to 80 percent in under 30 minutes.   

XUV e8 And XUV e9: Highlights

The XUV e8 will be underpinned by the new INGLO platform and will wear the XUV700’s top hat, albeit with different styling. The front end looks sharper and is dominated by the LED DRLs that extend till the front bumper. Mahindra also had a running prototype of the XUV E8 at the launch event. The interior is the same as the XUV700 but gets three connected 12.3-inch displays. The passenger will get to enjoy videos, music, and even make calls while on the go. The vehicle is likely to be powered by a single motor with 228-282 BHP powering the rear wheels and may get a 60kWh battery pack. 

The XUV e9 also gets a similar front-end styling as the XUV e8, but gets a coupe design at the rear with a large connected LED tail-lamp. It is likely to be a 5-seater only version unlike the Xuv e8, which comes in a 7-seater configuration. The XUV e9 will also get a new two-spoke steering wheel, three connected digital panels, and new drive selector. The XUV e8 is expected to hit the production lines by the end of 2024, while the XUV e9 gets a tentative 2025 launch date. 

BE.05, BE.07, And BE.09: Highlights

Mahindra’s BE range gets sharper lines and headlight designs that scream “electric”. Ex-Tata designer Pratap Bose joined Mahindra last year and you can find signature Bose elements in the new design language of the BE vehicles. Just like his previous projects such as the Tata Harrier, Tata Safari, and Tata Punch, the new Mahindra BE vehicles also come with muscular designs and a rugged appeal.

The BE.05 will be the entry-level EV in the lineup with a 4.3-metre length, something of the Creta/Seltos size. It is touted to be a sports car on stilts with sharp character lines, an aggressive front-end, twin-spoiler design, squared-off wheel arches, and massive wheels.

Bose, in an interview with the Car & Bike Show, indicated that the BE.05 in production form will be 90 to 95 percent of the prototype that was showcased. He added that the trapezoidal LED DRLs and large air dams will also make it to the production vehicle. The SUV-coupe will get a driver-focussed cabin with twin digital displays and a two-spoke steering wheel. The EV will feature L2+ autonomous capabilities like the others in the BE range. The BE.05 is slated for an October 2025 launch. 

The BE.07 boasts of a boxier design compared to the angular and coupe design of the BE.05. It measures 4,565mm in length, 1,900mm in width, and 1,660mm in height, which is comparable to the Tata Harrier. It gets a flat dashboard design with three large 12.3-inch digital displays and a two-spoke steering wheel with an illuminated BE logo. The SUV comes with flush-mounted roof rails and a huge panoramic sunroof. The BE.07 is set to arrive sometime in 2026. 

Lastly, the BE.09 will possibly be the biggest of the lot. It will get a boxy front end but a coupe rear with a sloping roof line, and its silhouette resembles the Tesla Cybertruck. It will be a premium offering and will be a four-seater, according to Mahindra. The electric vehicle is likely to be a dual motor version delivering up to 389 BHP and an 80kWh battery pack. Mahindra will reveal its proportions and specifications at a later date. 

Mahindra has some exciting EV products lined up for the future. But, considering that the petrol/diesel-powered XUV700 waiting period has increased to two years, would you ask yourself, “To ‘BE’ or not to ‘BE’?” Let us know in the comments section below.