Mahindra launches XEV9s; prices start under 20 lakh

Mahindra and Mahindra on Thursday launched the third vehicle on its ‘Born Electric’ INGLO platform, the XEV9s. With four specification levels, the XEV9s which is a three-row seven-seat vehicle the carmaker hopes to challenge for the top spot in India’s growing electric passenger vehicle market. The car will be available in four specification levels, with three different battery size options of 59 kilowatt-hours (kWh), 70kWh and 79kWh.

Two different power outputs of 170 kilowatts and 210 kilowatts are available and mahindra officials claim that a range of over 500 kilometres, more or less the distance between Delhi and Lucknow is easily achievable on the higher variants. Prices for the base ‘Pack One Above’ start at Rs19.95 lakh and go up to Rs29.35 lakh (prices ex-showroom) for the top ‘Pack Three Above’ variant.

Mahindra is offering a ‘coast-to-coat’ triple screen display and a panoramic sunroof as standard features across all variants and the top-variant will feature what Mahindra describes as ‘Level 2 Plus’ Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) with five radars enhancing safety which will be powered by a Qualcomm 8935 Snapdragon processor.

Unlike the first two INGLO vehicles, the XEV9e and BE6 which have a ‘Coupe’ shape with a sloping roofline, the XEV9s has been developed as a more conventional SUV. Speaking to The Pioneer, Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director, Auto and Farm Sectors, Mahindra and Mahindra, said, “The first two cars were designed for early adopters of electric vehicles, who we felt wanted their cars to be different. Something to break the mold not just in terms of performance but also design. The XEV9s is a more conventional design because we feel that as electric adoption increases, consumers want more conventional design.”

The BE6 and XEV9e have sold over 30,000 units since they went on sale in January of this year and the company said that in its last quarter 8.7 percent of overall passenger vehicle sales were electrics. Jejurikar expects that number to increase to 20 percent by the end of Financial Year 2027-28 with Mahindra and other manufacturers increasing product offerings in the electric vehicle space.

To assuage electric vehicle buyers about charging, the company is also establishing new charging stations across the country. The first two such stations went live earlier this month including one near Murthal on the Delhi-Ambala highway, and will feature 180 kilowatt DC fast chargers, which will allow vehicles like the XEV9s to charge from 10 percent to 80 percent charge in just over 20 minutes. However, Jejurikar felt that a bulk of electric vehicle buyers will charge their vehicles at home.

“The main thing with this vehicle is to show that there is no difference in the price point of an electric vehicle and of a traditional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicle. When this is coupled with the incredible operating cost savings of an electric, I feel more and more Indian car buyers will choose them”, Jejurikar added.

Bookings for the XEV9s will open in the first week of January and deliveries will start of January 23.