Exclusive: M&M to share its upcoming 3.5-litre CV engine with tractors

Given its presence across the automotive and farm equipment segments, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) is working towards establishing synergies across various product platforms.

Speaking to Autocar Professional on the sidelines of the unveiling of its first 49-tonne heavy commercial vehicle – the Mahindra Traco 49 – in Pune today, Rajan Wadhera, president and chief executive – truck and powertrain, and head – Mahindra Research Valley (MRV), M&M, revealed that the company is currently developing an all-new engine that will be shared between the various upcoming intermediate commercial vehicles (ICVs) and the new tractor model(s).

"It would be difficult to quantify the benefits through synergies but I can give you a very unique example. The engine that we are currently developing for the ICVs will also go on our 120hp tractor. So we are developing a tractor which will be powered by the same engine. Can you imagine the synergies? Can you imagine how we can bring down the costs between the two (ICVs and tractor development)?," said Wadhera.

This all-new engine, which is currently being developed by M&M, will be a 3.5-litre diesel powerplant.

Nalin Mehta, managing director and CEO, Mahindra Truck and Bus Division (MTBD), said: “There is an engine platform that is being developed currently. With various injection pressures and fuel maps you can derive different kind of characteristics from essentially the same engine. It gives us huge synergy that the basic platform of this engine, which is a 3.5-litre powerplant, has good use when it comes to multiple automotive applications.”

In the context of fine-tuning the engine to adhere to the respective emission norms of two different vehicle classes – CVs and tractors – Mehta added that “we will have our truck driving cycle appropriately mapped at the right injection pressures to achieve appropriate emissions because the norms (emission) are also different. But almost 95 percent of the engine would be common. Our ability (and affordability) of improving the product goes up, our bargaining authority with the suppliers goes up. So there is 360- degree benefit whether you see the front end (services at the dealership) or the back end (through development costs) or even the suppliers’ end. Hence, I would say that most appropriately this strategy is most useful and the Mahindra Group has this unique situation where we are participating in almost automotive segments. This gives us good strength.”

MTBD, which is working on three different product platforms to develop multiple ICVs in the near future, is investing Rs 700 crore in the said product development. This also involves new chassis systems, new powertrains, new drivelines and new cabins, according to the company officials.

NEW DIESEL POWERPLANTS FOR ICVs
As per MTBD’s plans, the vehicles that will debut in the category of ICVs will essentially be powered by three diesel engines – 4.8 litre, 3.5 litre and 3.2 litre, a company official says.

Speaking about the engine development, Mehta said: “Using the architecture of our 7.2-litre diesel engine used in HCVs, we are working on a 4.8-litre engine for some of the upcoming (ICV) applications. There will be the 3.5-litre (diesel) engine about which I have just mentioned. In addition to that, we have an existing range of 3.2-litre engine, which is a famous direct injection engine – that also goes into our light commercial vehicle (LCV) range. So the aggregate strategy (of the engine families) is such that it spawns not only the variants for the truck business but the whole of auto and farm sector business. That’s the basic point that even Mr Wadhera made and I want to emphasize the same.”

It is known that M&M had formed Mahindra Heavy Engines (MHEPL) in 2007 to produce diesel engines for its medium and heavy commercial vehicles. Its website points out that the company currently produces two diesel engines – in-line six-cylinder 7.2 litre and in-line four-cylinder 4.8-litre powerplants – that power MTBD’s current portfolio of M&HCVs.

Interestingly, both the engines (7.2 litre and 4.8 litre) have the same bore and stroke measurements and both run on direct injection system. MHEPL’s manufacturing plant in Chakan, according to the company website, has an annual production capacity of 45,000 units.

On the other hand, the 3.2-litre engine that the company official referred to is the 3191cc diesel powerplant that is used in Mahindra’s Tourister school buses. This will become another powerplant which will see sharing between the LCVs and ICVs in the coming years.

More from Mahindra & Mahindra:

- Company bets big on ICVs, invests Rs 700 crore in new product platforms

- Exclusive interview with Nalin Mehta, MD & CEO, Mahindra Truck & Bus Division