By 2024, Mahindra and Mahindra intends to become one of the top automotive brands globally, and the company’s research and development teams are working overtime to help it achieve this goal. Recently, the Indian automaker inaugurated a technical center at Michigan, North America with the moniker “North American Technical Center” (MNATC) and the facility will be used to develop a new global car platform to start things off.
Mahindra XUV 500 hybrid used as an illustration
“The North American Technical Centre is working on a new four-wheeler platform for M&M,” said Dr Pawan Goenka, executive director and president – automotive & farm equipment, Mahindra and Mahindra, when he inaugurated the technical facility. The global platform would spawn a slew of SUVs in all likelihood considering the fact that Mahindra doesn’t intend to enter the commercial vehicle segments in US.
A team of 40 engineers who have expertise in automotive engineering and prototyping have been engaged by MNATC. Mahindra has also chosen Michigan as the base for the GenZe electric scooter which was recently launched by it. The company believes that Michigan is the perfect place for it to set up a technical facility as it has been able to find the required talent there.
Mahindra’s North American Technical Centre will be joining hands with the Mahindra Research Valley, Chennai and Ssangyong’s research facility at South Korea. Mahindra is also working on a range of electric vehicles led by Reva Electric, the automaker’s electric vehicle maker acquisition. Although Mahindra has cemented its position as one of India’s top automakers, the company is still a flyweight when it comes to the global automotive market.
Developing a new car platform in the United States is expected to give Mahindra enough ammunition to take on global giants such as Ford and General Motors. With this announcement, expect more global vehicles from Mahindra in the future.