Home-grown OEM, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), which is participating at the ‘Make in India Week’ which started today in Mumbai, says that its latest product, the KUV100, is a strong reflection of the 'Make in India’ theme.

"Around 97-98 percent of components and technologies in the KUV100 are developed in India. What better certification of a Make in India product than that?" says Pravin Shah, chief executive - automotive sector, Mahindra & Mahindra. The KUV100 was launched on January 15 at an aggressive entry price-tag of Rs. 4.96 lakh. 

The Make in India Week could be a precursor to some plans by the government in this year's Union Budget that will promote manufacturing in India. Shah, who attended the inauguration of the event, feels so."The timing of this event, just before the Budget, definitely hints that Make in India definitely will find some space in the Budget," he says. 

Mahindra & Mahindra, which has grown into the world's largest tractor maker and a leader in the Indian utility vehicle market, is a 'Make in India' story in itself. The company is working on becoming a global player now. Acquisitions of Korean OEM SsangYong, France's Peugeot Motocycles and iconic Italian design firm Pinanfarina recently reflect its ambitions. 

It has also invested heavily on R&D. In the past 10 years, M&M has invested Rs. 7,100 crore (US$ 1.1 billion). The Make in India story also extends to its vendors who are MSMEs. M&M sources components worth Rs 1,800 crore annually from the relatively small component manufacturers. 

Photo: Press Information Bureau