Mahindra's Chakan Plant Rolls Out Three-Millionth Vehicle

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. announced that its Chakan manufacturing facility had crossed the three-million-vehicle production mark. The milestone unit was the BE 6, the company's flagship electric SUV, underscoring the plant's role in supporting both combustion-engine and electric vehicle production.

The facility, which produced its first vehicle in December 2009, took 107 months to reach its first million vehicles. The most recent million was completed in just 27 months, reflecting a sharp acceleration in output.

R Velusamy, President of Mahindra's Automotive Business, said the milestone reflected growing customer trust and the commitment of the company's employees, partners and suppliers. He noted that the plant integrates technologies including artificial intelligence, IoT, 5G connectivity and robotics, combined with Lean and Total Productive Maintenance practices, to support quality and scale.

Scale and technology

Spread over 657 acres, the Chakan plant manufactures 19 models and more than 450 variants spanning passenger vehicles, electric vehicles and commercial vehicles. The facility operates roughly 1,500 robots, with automation levels exceeding 98% in its body shop, alongside robotic painting and sealing operations. Quality control measures include 3D component scanning and real-time weld monitoring, while seven multi-model assembly lines and autonomous mobile robots support flexible production. The plant also uses real-time monitoring systems to track safety compliance on the shop floor.

Sustainability metrics

More than half of the facility's energy needs are met through renewable sources, with electric-vehicle manufacturing operations running entirely on renewable energy. Mahindra said Chakan is water-positive, returning about 131% of the water it uses through rainwater recharge of roughly 9.91 lakh kilolitres annually. The plant holds Zero Waste to Landfill certification and is working toward an EP100 commitment to double its energy productivity.

Vehicles produced at Chakan support Mahindra's international operations, with exports to markets including South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Founded in 1945, the Mahindra Group employs about 324,000 people across more than 100 countries and holds leadership positions in farm equipment, utility vehicles, information technology and financial services, in addition to being the world's largest tractor manufacturer by volume.