Mahindra, an Indian carmaker, is currently exploring the use of Volkswagen Group’s Modular Electrification Toolkit (MEB) electric components for its new ‘Born Electric Platform’ that will be used in its electric vehicles (EVs) The two carmakers have signed a partnership to evaluate the scope of the collaboration.
Mahindra intends to equip its Born Electric Platform with MEB electric components including electric motors, battery system components and battery cells. Designed as an open vehicle platform, the MEB electric platform and its components allow car manufacturers to build their portfolio of electrified vehicles, quickly and cost-effectively.
The shared objective of the two automakers is to electrify the Indian automotive market, one of the most important automotive growth markets and a key element in the global decarbonisation of the mobility sector.
Thomas Schmall, Volkswagen Group Board of Management member for Technology and CEO of Volkswagen Group Components, said: “Mahindra is a pioneer in the electric mobility space in India and a great partner for our MEB Electric Platform.
“Together with Mahindra, we want to contribute significantly to the electrification of India, a huge automotive market with enormous growth potential and high relevance for climate protection.
“It’s another proof point that the MEB is both technologically state of the art and highly competitive in terms of cost. The MEB is thus progressively developing into the leading open platform for e-mobility, generating significant volume and economies of scale. That’s crucial for every company in the EV world and the key to competitive solutions for our customers.”
India is one of the Global Top-5 Automotive Markets with about three million vehicles per year. According to current forecasts, the market could grow to up to five million vehicles by 2030. So far, the market has been dominated by vehicles with diesel or petrol engines.
However, at the COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow, India undertook only to register zero-emission passenger cars and vans, starting in 2035. As a result, the electrification of the passenger car segment is expected to gain significant momentum in the coming years. Industry experts anticipate that in 2030 more than half of all new vehicles will be fully electric.
Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director, Auto and Farm Sectors, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., said: “We are very pleased to have Volkswagen, a significant global investor in the electric mobility space, as a strategic partner in achieving our ambitious Born Electric Vison.
“The complementarity of their extensive technology, innovation, and vertical integration in supply chains, will provide a framework to develop our next-gen Born Electric Platform, to be revealed soon in Oxfordshire, UK. Our teams across India, UK and Detroit are passionately creating a breath-taking future.”
