Exclusive: Mahindra & Mahindra developing new vehicle platform in the USA

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) is working on an ‘aggressive strategy to become a top global automotive brand’ by 2024. Its North American Technical Centre (MNATC), based in Michigan, will play a key role in this ambitious strategy. Engineers at MNATC are already at work on one of Mahindra’s new wave of products. “The North American Technical Centre is working on a new four-wheeler platform for M&M,” says Dr Pawan Goenka, executive director and president - Automotive & Farm Equipment Sectors, M&M, who was in Michigan to inaugurate the technical centre on May 13. This platform could be for international markets as M&M does not have any specific plan to enter the passenger vehicle market in US now. 

MNATC currently has a team of more than 40 engineers with capabilities in complete vehicle engineering design and prototyping for Mahindra’s global markets.  “The MNATC is delivering on its promise of world-class product development as we take on complex global programs,” says Rick Haas, COO, MNATC in an official statement.  

Explaining the choice of Michigan as a base for Mahindra’s technical centre as well as the production base for the recently launched GenZe electric two-wheeler, Anand Mahindra, chairman, M&M, said in a press release, “Michigan provided us the perfect eco-system to step up our US presence. We were able to draw on the terrific automotive engineering and manufacturing talent available in the state, to create industry leading initiatives for the United States.”

Mahindra’s North American Technical Centre will complement Mahindra Research Valley, Chennai and Mahindra-owned-SsangYong’s base in South Korea as a key hub in the M&M’s R&D efforts. There are various ongoing vehicle projects in the Mahindra Group where Mahindra or SsangYong or Mahindra Reva are taking the lead, depending on the nature of the project. On the two-wheeler side of its automobile business, M&M has an R&D centre in Pune and also a technical alliance with Sanyang Motors (SYM) of Taiwan.

Photograph: M&M's first ‘global SUV’ – XUV 500 – was developed by the team at Mahindra Research Valley. MNATC in Michigan could give additional thrust to Mahindra’s ambition of becoming a top global auto brand.