The Mahindra XUV500 (codenamed W201) turns a year old this month. Launched on September 28, 2011, M&M had a winner from the very start with the vehicle clocking over 8,000 bookings within a fortnight of its launch. Initially, bookings opened across five cities – Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai – from October 1, 2011, with a starting price of Rs 10.8 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the base 2WD version. M&M then closed bookings. Till end-August 2012, M&M had sold 32,131 units. The company initially manufactured 2,000 units per month at its Chakan plant in Maharashtra and has subsequently ramped up production in phases to reach 4,500 units per month in June.

When bookings re-opened in January this year, M&M revised prices, making the SUV dearer by Rs 30,000-55,000. Meanwhile, plans for an automatic variant are delayed as the sole supplier, an Australian company, is shifting base to China. M&M has kicked off talks with Hyundai to source an automatic gearbox . An automatic XUV500 is unlikely to hit the market before 2014.

DEVESH SHOBHA