Exclusive: M&M appoints Kedar Apte to lead EV charging division

Mahindra & Mahindra is preparing for its major electric vehicle product rollout by putting in place a dedicated team, led by Kedar Apte, for its EV charging business, a crucial component of the brand's success in this emerging space.

Autocar Professional has learned that Apte, formerly the Chief of International Operations for the Farm Equipment Sector, will take charge as Senior Vice President and Head of Charging Infrastructure for the Auto and Farm Sectors, starting October 1, 2024. In this role, he will report to both Hemant Sikka, President of the Farm Equipment Sector, and Veejay Nakra, President of the Automotive Division.

Apte will lead the establishment and management of the EV charging business, building a team dedicated to planning, executing, and creating charging infrastructure for homes, offices, and other locations for the Auto business. He will collaborate closely with the business and leverage the existing Powerol network while identifying and developing new channels for future growth, the company confirmed.

Mahindra & Mahindra has planned at least six new electric vehicles in the next two to three years—starting with the 3XO electric and the ground-up battery EVs on the Inglo platform from 2025, which will include models like BE05, BE07, BE09, XUV e8, and XUV e9.

The company has committed an investment of over Rs 12,000 crore in its EV SUV business, with a capacity of 1.2 lakh units per annum expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2025, with further scaling planned. M&M has set a goal of having 20-30% of its total sales in the EV segment within the next 3-5 years.

Previously, Apte was responsible for growing FES exports and managing international subsidiaries in Turkey, as well as developing business plans for entry into Thailand and Europe. His replacement will be announced shortly.

Apte has extensive experience with leading MNCs, including Unilever and Castrol BP, where he held leadership positions in sales and marketing. He also served as Chief Marketing Officer for the retail business of Reliance and BP's joint venture, Jio-bp, focused on reimagining mobility in India.