M&M revs up electric drive

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) is working on the conversion of its partnering agreement with Volkswagen signed last month, for the use of its modular electric drive matrix or MEB parts into a supply agreement, said Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director, Auto and FES, Mahindra & Mahindra. He was speaking at the post-results interaction with the media in which the company's leadership dwelt on various aspects of the business as well the future outlook.

- Brian de Souza

Dwelling a bit more on the partnering agreement with Volkswagen, Anish Shah, the Managing Director and CEO of Mahindra & Mahindra said that while the company has a great relationship with VW and hopes to use parts of the latter's MEB in its own offerings, reiterated that its the eco-system that "we are looking at the moment as we get ready for global play in EVs".

M&M signed the agreement with Volkswagen on 19 May to explore the use of MEB parts including battery parts and electric motors in its Born Electric platform. The agreement comes just over a year after M&M called off its joint venture with Ford to make SUVS for the Indian market. Volkswagen, interestingly, has an ongoing tie-up with Ford for its MEB parts. Ford has also exited its India manufacturing activities in India and has also decided not to make EVS at its Chennai plant for global markets for which it has applied for benefits under the government's production-linked incentive scheme.