Mahindra working on Electric XUV300; Launch Set For 2020

Indian carmaker Mahindra revealed the name of the S201 compact SUV yesterday. Called the XUV300, Mahindra will launch the SUV early next year. At the event, where the company revealed the name of the SUV, Mahindra also confirmed the news that an electric XUV300 was in the works.

The electric XUV300 is expected to retain the same design as its fossil fuel burning sibling and will arrive in 2020. The new all-electric SUV is expected to be based on the Mahindra Electric Scalable Modular Architecture (MESMA) platform which was showcased at Auto Expo 2018.

The electric XUV300 is expected to feature a lithium-ion battery pack from LG Chem, a company that Mahindra had recently tied up with to produce Li-ion batteries for their new cars. The electric XUV300, which is internally known as the S210 by Mahindra (the regular SUV was codenamed S201) is expected to be offered in two different guises. The first will be more of a city vehicle which will feature a shorter range compared to the second version of the electric SUV which will feature an extended range to help the e-XUV300 go for longer on a single charge.

When it arrives in 2020, the electric version of the XUV300 will be the first electric SUV in its segment to make its way onto Indian roads. However, it will not be the first ever electric SUV in India as that honour is expected to go to the electric Kona SUV from Hyundai, which is expected to arrive in the sub-continent next year.

There are no details about the pricing of the electric XUV300, but expect it to be priced above the top-spec XUV300 considering the battery tech will most likely be imported in from South Korea for this model. However, the electric XUV300 is expected to be considerably more affordable compared to the Hyundai Kona EV and the upcoming electric SUV from Morris Garage, the latter of which is also expected to arrive in 2020.

The electric XUV300 will be the fourth all-electric offering from Mahindra when it finally arrives in 2020. Mahindra already has the e2O Plus and e-Verito on sale in India and the carmaker will be launching the electric version of the KUV100 crossover in India next year. The new electric XUV300 will be the most expensive offering in the Mahindra electric range when it finally arrives in India in 2020.

Before that happens though, Mahindra will be launching the regular XUV300 in India early next year in February. The new SUV brings with it a host of best in class features including 7 airbags, LED projector headlamps and LED taillamps, 17-inch alloy wheels and even a sunroof. The new XUV300 will be offered with both petrol and diesel engine options when it arrives early next year with the petrol being an all-new 1.2-litre turbocharged motor. The diesel offering, on the other hand will be the Marazzo’s 1.5-litre turbodiesel powerplant.