Upcoming Mahindra born electric vehicles could use Volkswagen MEB components
Mahindra and Volkswagen have signed an agreement to explore the possibilities of Mahindra using components from Volkswagen's MEB EV architecture for the Indian SUV maker's upcoming line of ground-up electric vehicles. These Mahindra EVs will be based on the Born Electric Architecture.
Mahindra Volkswagen EV component partnership
As per this new agreement, signed on May 18, Mahindra will equip its EVs with electric motors, battery system components and battery cells from Volkswagen. In the first phase of this partnership, the two parties will conduct an evaluation over the next few months. A binding agreement that will see Volkswagen begin supplying these components to Mahindra will be signed by the end of 2022.
Mahindra Born Electric Platform
Mahindra will unveil its upcoming EVs based on this Born Electric Platform in July this year. The concepts are being designed by the newly established Mahindra Advanced Design Europe (MADE) design studio in the UK, headed by Pratap Bose. These electric SUVs will debut a new Born electric Vision sub-brand and are set to see a market launch. The first of these SUVs will be launched by 2025 but these Volkswagen MEB EV drivetrains could debut before that in 2024 with electrified versions of the XUV700, the second-gen XUV300 as well as the coupe-SUV being planned around the XUV700.
Volkswagen MEB architecture
The Volkswagen MEB architecture is the firm modular EV platform, used by its various brands in cars like the Volkswagen I.D.4, the Skoda Enyaq iV and the Audi Q4 e-tron. The modular electric drive matrix platform is also being supplied to external firms like Ford, and now Mahindra. The MEB architecture is a flexible one and can be modified to suit Mahindra's specific needs in terms of the battery size and consequently range. MEB equipped VW cars like the Volkswagen I.D. # hatch have a range of up to 550 km WLTP and can charge at up to 100 kW DC. So if Mahindra does use these components in its EVs, expect similar range and charging numbers. Power outputs should be around 200 to 300 PS, again if other MEB cars are anything to go by.
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