The firm remains committed to SUVs, even in light of the flexibility of the MEB architecture, and says that VW’s phasing out of MEB in favor of the new SSP platform, from 2025 onwards, will not have any bearing on its product roll-out. Rajesh Jejurikar, who heads up Mahindra’s automotive and farming divisions, said localization of production and component supply will be critical to Mahindra progressing with its own plans as VW changes direction.
Even more significant is the use of VW Group components in their make-up. The so-called Inglo platform, which has been developed in India while the cars were designed at Mahindra Advanced Design Europe in Banbury, Oxfordshire, will underpin all of Mahinda’s electric vehicles from now on. Mahindra’s European design center is based on the same site as its successful Formula E racing team, which the firm says promotes collaboration on the subjects of EV efficiency, aerodynamics and other technological aspects of electrification.
The Inglo platform has been conceived with an equal focus on advanced battery hardware, computing power and human-machine interaction – with capacity for ‘exhilarating’ performance and “excellent range and efficiency”, while simultaneously introducing a new virtual reality interface and 5G functionality to allow over-the-air updates.
Details remain unclear on exactly how similar Inglo and MEB – as used by the Volkswagen ID 3, Audi Q4 E-tron and Cupra Born – are related, but certainly Mahindra’s vision hinges similarly around the modularity of the new architecture, which will allow it to explore new segments and usher in a raft of new models, while minimizing development costs and streamlining its aftersales operations.
The Indian marque says the skateboard architecture is one of the world’s lightest. It houses common-format LFP batteries with a cell-to-pack design, ranging in capacity from 60kWh-80kWh and capable of charging at speeds of up to 175kW. That’s quicker than any MEB-based EV currently on sale, but Autocar understands VW Group cars will be upgraded with the larger cells in due course.
Meanwhile, a new battery management system has been integrated to ensure that intense charge-discharge cycles do not have a severe impact on battery longevity, reducing waste and costs.