Mahindra Group CEO And MD Says EVs Are Superior To Hybrids: Here’s Why [Video]

Mahindra Automotive is gearing up for the official launch of the new BE 6 and XEV 9E born electric SUVs in India. According to the automaker, both of these SUVs are set to change the EV market in the country. Recently, while speaking to NDTV Profit, Anish Shah, Group CEO of the Mahindra Group and Managing Director of Mahindra & Mahindra, highlighted how electric vehicles are the future and how they are superior to internal combustion engined and hybrid vehicles.

EVs are superior to ICE and hybrids: Mahindra

While speaking to the media outlet, Anish Shah first mentioned that electric cars of the future will be a lot better than ICE and hybrid vehicles. He stated that electric cars offer a much better driving experience than normal cars. They also offer faster acceleration, and they are much quieter. Additionally, electric cars are more aligned with government policies due to their lower emission levels.

Safety concerns are reducing

Adding to his view, Shah stated that electric cars are now becoming a lot safer. He highlighted that their new products, the BE 6 and XEV 9E, have batteries that have gone through extremely rigorous tests. The new blade cell technology batteries have been set on fire, submerged in water for 48 hours, and have even gone through a nail penetration test. Additionally, the battery pack was run over by a 20-ton truck and did not sustain any damage.

Range is increasing and the price is decreasing

Anish Shah also mentioned during his interview that concerns about range anxiety and charging that people currently have with EVs in the market will be reduced. He stated that the new Mahindra SUVs will come with 682 km and 656 km claimed ranges.

In reality, they will provide more than 500 km on single full charges during real-life driving, as these cars have been tested for six months across 21 Indian cities. He also stated that charging times are reducing, as the new Mahindra BE 6 and XEV 9E can be charged from 20% to 80% in just 20 minutes using a 175 kW DC fast charger.

The next point highlighted by Anish was related to the pricing of the new Mahindra EV SUVs. He stated that the biggest entry barrier to EVs currently for the average car buyer is the high pricing. The CEO mentioned that this high pricing is due to the fact that most EVs are currently based on ICE vehicle platforms, which makes them costly.

However, with the new Mahindra SUVs, which are based on the INGLO born electric platform, the pricing will become lower, and they will be able to challenge the pricing of traditional ICE and strong hybrid cars. Anish highlighted that the BE 6 and XEV 9E will also challenge electric cars from other automakers.

Mahindra bullish on EVs

Answering the interviewer on the future of electric mobility, Anish Shah stated that Mahindra is expecting the EV market in India to grow exponentially in the future. He added that by addressing the concerns about safety, range, and charging, Mahindra will make EVs accessible to more customers.

Also, the competitive pricing and supportive government policies that favor EV adoption will help the brand bridge the gap between ICE/hybrids and EVs.

Response to Mahindra electric SUVs

Apart from these points, Anish Shah stated that Mahindra has received an overwhelming response for their new BE 6 and XEV 9E. He mentioned that they have received over 1.4 billion impressions on social media platforms. Also, the dealers and customers have shared highly positive feedback on both of these electric SUVs. He concluded by stating that they are now setting up test drives, which will commence soon.