Mahindra rolls out new people-mover

WITH A CLAIMED market share of close to 25 percent in the Tata Ace-dominated light truck market within a year of launching its Maxximo, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) has taken the game a step ahead by launching the passenger carrier version. The new Maxximo Mini Van is pitted directly against the Ace Magic, with a price tag of Rs 3.2 lakh (BS III, ex-showroom, Navi Mumbai), Rs 1,500 more than the Magic.

The Mini Van’s 25bhp CRDe engine (claimed 18kpl), monocoque body, a proper roof and a fixed-glass rear door are some features that M&M hopes will help its latest offering take on the competition successfully. The people- mover comes with Twin LSPV (Load Sensing Proportioning Valve) brakes and a wider passenger cabin.

Rajesh Jejurikar, chief executive, automotive division, M&M, says: “Last year, the market size of the minivan segment in India was over 140,000 vehicles which are increasingly emerging as the choice of both the entry-level contract carriage and the stage carriage segment. We expect the Maxximo Mini Van to be a game-changer.”

Meanwhile, Autocar Professional learns that work on a more powerful version is underway.

M&M has invested Rs 200 crore in the Mini Van project. The new people-mover is produced at the Chakan plant, which has a capacity to roll out 2,000 units per month. Sixty-five percent of the Mini Van’s parts are common with the Maxximo truck.

Electric version in the pipeline

Answering a query, Rajan Wadhera, executive vice-president – R&D, Automotive Sector, M&M said that the Maxximo’s electric version will be ready in eight to nine months from now. Since the Maxximo Mini Van is also primarily for intra-city movement, its electric version may also hit the market. M&M’s Dr Pawan Goenka, however, adds that that more than the product or technology availability, it is the infrastructure availability that will decide the introduction of the electric Maxximo and the electric Mini Van.