India’s crowded sports utility vehicle (SUV) space is set to usher in yet another product and this time from the Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) stable in September 2015.
The country’s leading utility vehicle (UV) manufacturer will launch the TUV 300, a new product from an all-new platform with new body and interiors. Announcing the product name, Pawan Goenka, Executive Director & President of automotive & farm equipment sectors at M&M said the ‘T’ in TUV stands for ‘tough’ in this sub-4 metre ‘compact’ SUV, which is inspired by a battle tank.
The product is targeted at urban customers and Mr. Goenka said “it is a true-blue SUV and will not replace the Bolero.”
The TUV300 was developed in-house at Mahindra Research Valley (MRV) in Chennai and will be made at the company’s plant at Chakan near Pune. Mahindra has used the expertise of Italian design major Pininfarina as a consultant for the TUV300 design.
The Chakan plant currently makes the XUV 500 and its Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) the Maxximo and Genio. The product will have a new diesel engine the mHawk 80.
On competition in the SUV segment, Mr. Goenka said competition was increasing. “The compact SUV comprises 40 per cent of the UV segment and the fact that many are entering the segment show the interest in it and we have been market leaders for some time.’’
Although the new TUV platform is 4-wheel drive (WD)-ready but this would not be launched initially. Besides, the TUV300 is targeting the global market “because globally many large players globally are vacating the segment. We are working on the left-hand drive (LHD) version and emission requirements and will be ready with that in a year,” Mr. Goenka added.
The company’s UV portfolio includes Quanto, Bolero, Xylo, Scorpio, XUV500 and the Thar with the Rexton from Ssangyong. This year it launched the refresh versions of XUV500, mini pick-up Jeeto and Thar. “We promised nine launches this year and the TUV300 is the fourth product. We hope with the TUV300 to re-affirm that we are the SUV people,” Mr. Goenka said.
