Mahindra & Mahindra has launched two electric vehicles—the BE 6e and XEV 9e—both of which have been newly developed by Mahindra. These vehicles are well-designed machines, built on strong technology and safety features.
There has been criticism that Mahindra has used several foreign parts and technologies in both vehicles. However, anyone can source the best parts; the challenge lies in integration.
“These two SUVs being electric is merely incidental,” said Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director and CEO of the Auto & Farm Sector at Mahindra & Mahindra. “The low maintenance cost is icing on the cake, but it's much more than that," he added. “What attracts buyers to these two vehicles is the advanced technology they offer,” he explained.
"After driving the BE 6e and XEV 9e, I was impressed by the onboard technology. But I must also admit that these vehicles are great to drive. They're not just fast because of the 210kW motor, but they also handle corners very well despite the nearly one-ton battery pack. The XEV 9e is notably wide as well."
Having covered the Indian automotive industry for almost 25 years, I began my journey when Mahindra & Mahindra launched the Scorpio, a vehicle that helped redefine the company. I loved driving that vehicle, even using it for a memorable road trip from Mumbai to Alappuzha. But the word 'refined' didn’t apply back then. Mahindra has come a long way since then. However, some issues persist from time to time—when I drove the new Thar Rocks in August, I did notice some minor issues.
Following the same standards, it was difficult for me to find any flaws in these two vehicles. Let me clarify, this is a 'first drive impression,' not a review. A couple of hours behind the wheel, especially in pre-production prototypes, doesn’t give you a full understanding of the vehicle.
One criticism is that Mahindra has used several foreign parts and technologies in these vehicles. The platform uses components from Volkswagen's MEB electric vehicle platform, cells from BYD’s Blade Cells, and motors sourced from French manufacturer Valeo. I support Mahindra on this point—anyone can source the best parts, but the challenge is in integration. While the cells come from China, BYD’s cells are used by several manufacturers, including Mercedes-Benz. Maruti-Suzuki is also set to import BYD battery packs for their upcoming eVitara. However, Mahindra uses its own ‘cell-to-pack’ technology to build the battery pack in-house.
