Mahindra and Mahindra has kept it no secret that it will be joining the electric mobility race with a trifecta of EV SUVs. However, recently the company has made a huge announcement regarding its electric future that it will be collaborating with German auto giant Volkswagen AG to explore the use of VW’s MEB electric components for Mahindra’s new “Born Electric Platform”.
Both of the cooperating companies stated that they have signed a Partnering Agreement to assess the scope of their collaboration. Mahindra intends to employ MEB electric components such as electric motors, battery system components, and battery cells in its “Born Electric Platform.” The companies also stated that the Partnering Agreement assesses the extent of collaboration and specifies both contractual and non-binding guidelines for the evaluation phase. Furthermore, the binding supply agreement will be negotiated in a productive and legally compliant manner, with a goal of completing it by the end of 2022.
Volkswagens MEB platform is a modular platform that has been designed as an open vehicle platform. This ensures that VW’s MEB platform and its components can be easily used by other auto manufacturers to build their portfolio of electrified vehicles, quickly and cost-effectively. Mahindra with this agreement will now be evaluating how the MEB platform and its various elements can be integrated with the forthcoming Mahindra EV vehicles. The two companies have a common goal of electrifying the Indian automobile market, which is one of the world’s most significant growing markets and a vital component of the worldwide decarbonisation of the mobility sector.
Also read: Oppo to launch electric vehicle in India by 2024
Thomas Schmall, Volkswagen Group Board of Management member for Technology and CEO of Volkswagen Group Components, speaking on the onset of this collaboration said, “Mahindra is a pioneer in the electric mobility space in India and a great partner for our MEB Electric Platform. Together with Mahindra, we want to contribute significantly to the electrification of India, a huge automotive market with enormous growth potential and high relevance for climate protection. It’s another proof point that the MEB is both technologically state of the art and highly competitive in terms of cost. The MEB is thus progressively developing into the leading open platform for e-mobility, generating significant volume and economies of scale. That’s crucial for every company in the EV world and the key to competitive solutions for our customers.”
Meanwhile, Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director, Auto and Farm Sectors, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., stated, “We are very pleased to have Volkswagen, a significant global investor in the electric mobility space, as a strategic partner in achieving our ambitious Born Electric Vison. The complementarity of their extensive technology, innovation, and vertical integration in supply chains, will provide a framework to develop our next gen “Born Electric Platform”, to be revealed soon in Oxfordshire UK. Our teams across India, UK and Detroit are passionately creating a breath-taking future.”
The Volkswagen Group’s MEB Electric Platform is currently in use by Volkswagen Group brands such as Volkswagen, Audi, SKODA, and SEAT/CUPRA, as well as other partners. The “Platform Business” organisation, which was developed particularly for this purpose, is in charge of these collaborations.
Also read: Tata Punch Accomplished trim with Dazzle pack in a walkaround video
Mahindra and Mahindra has kept it no secret that it will be joining the electric mobility race with a trifecta of EV SUVs. However, recently the company has made a huge announcement regarding its electric future that it will be collaborating with German auto giant Volkswagen AG to explore the use of VW’s MEB electric components for Mahindra’s new “Born Electric Platform”.
Both of the cooperating companies stated that they have signed a Partnering Agreement to assess the scope of their collaboration. Mahindra intends to employ MEB electric components such as electric motors, battery system components, and battery cells in its “Born Electric Platform.” The companies also stated that the Partnering Agreement assesses the extent of collaboration and specifies both contractual and non-binding guidelines for the evaluation phase. Furthermore, the binding supply agreement will be negotiated in a productive and legally compliant manner, with a goal of completing it by the end of 2022.
Volkswagens MEB platform is a modular platform that has been designed as an open vehicle platform. This ensures that VW’s MEB platform and its components can be easily used by other auto manufacturers to build their portfolio of electrified vehicles, quickly and cost-effectively. Mahindra with this agreement will now be evaluating how the MEB platform and its various elements can be integrated with the forthcoming Mahindra EV vehicles. The two companies have a common goal of electrifying the Indian automobile market, which is one of the world’s most significant growing markets and a vital component of the worldwide decarbonisation of the mobility sector.
Also read: Oppo to launch electric vehicle in India by 2024
Thomas Schmall, Volkswagen Group Board of Management member for Technology and CEO of Volkswagen Group Components, speaking on the onset of this collaboration said, “Mahindra is a pioneer in the electric mobility space in India and a great partner for our MEB Electric Platform. Together with Mahindra, we want to contribute significantly to the electrification of India, a huge automotive market with enormous growth potential and high relevance for climate protection. It’s another proof point that the MEB is both technologically state of the art and highly competitive in terms of cost. The MEB is thus progressively developing into the leading open platform for e-mobility, generating significant volume and economies of scale. That’s crucial for every company in the EV world and the key to competitive solutions for our customers.”
Meanwhile, Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director, Auto and Farm Sectors, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., stated, “We are very pleased to have Volkswagen, a significant global investor in the electric mobility space, as a strategic partner in achieving our ambitious Born Electric Vison. The complementarity of their extensive technology, innovation, and vertical integration in supply chains, will provide a framework to develop our next gen “Born Electric Platform”, to be revealed soon in Oxfordshire UK. Our teams across India, UK and Detroit are passionately creating a breath-taking future.”
The Volkswagen Group’s MEB Electric Platform is currently in use by Volkswagen Group brands such as Volkswagen, Audi, SKODA, and SEAT/CUPRA, as well as other partners. The “Platform Business” organisation, which was developed particularly for this purpose, is in charge of these collaborations.
Also read: Tata Punch Accomplished trim with Dazzle pack in a walkaround video