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Mahindra to use Volkswagen’s Unified Cells and MEB Components for its INGLO EV platform with this partnership
The Indian automotive landscape is poised for a paradigm shift as giants Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) and Volkswagen Group solidify their strategic partnership. This collaboration cemented with a recently signed supply agreement, aims to accelerate the electrification of India’s transportation sector.
What will this new partnership conclude:
Marking a significant milestone, M&M becomes the first non-VW Group company to adopt Volkswagen’s revolutionary unified cell concept. This innovative approach standardizes battery modules across diverse vehicle platforms, streamlining manufacturing and unlocking unparalleled scalability and flexibility. The standardized design, utilizing prismatic cells, promises a 50% reduction in battery costs. Also a significant efficiency gains in assembly, leading to faster production times. This is a game-changer for mass EV adoption in cost-sensitive markets like India.
The agreement stipulates over 50 GWh of cell supply to M&M over multiple years. It will power their upcoming INGLO series of electric SUVs. These vehicles, slated for a December 2024 debut and will be offered under two distinct sub-brands – XUV and BE. It will leverage key components from Volkswagen’s modular electric drive matrix (MEB) platform. This includes the electric powertrain, battery system, and battery cells, ensuring cutting-edge technology and performance. Volkswagen ambitiously targets supplying components for up to one million Mahindra EVs by 2030, demonstrating their commitment to India’s electrification journey.
Mahindra’s new INGLO EV platform:
The beauty of the unified cell lies in its scalability and chemistry-agnostic nature. This adaptability paves the way for seamless integration of future battery technologies like solid-state batteries, which Volkswagen predicts will be incorporated into production vehicles by the mid-2020s. This forward-thinking approach ensures that M&M’s INGLO platform remains at the forefront of EV innovation, offering superior range, safety, and charging speeds.
This partnership extends beyond a mere supply agreement. Both companies are actively exploring further collaboration areas, hinting at potential joint development, technology sharing, and platform co-creation. This deeper alliance could create a powerful ecosystem, accelerating India’s transition to a sustainable and electric future.
Impact and Implications:
The ramifications of this collaboration are multifaceted:
- Boosting India’s EV ecosystem: Increased investments, technology transfer, and joint production ventures will create jobs, stimulate local manufacturing, and propel India’s EV industry forward.
- Affordability and accessibility: Cost-effective unified cells and scalable production have the potential to make EVs more accessible to the Indian consumer, driving wider adoption.
- Enhanced consumer experience: Cutting-edge MEB platform components and future-proof battery technology will offer Indian consumers competitive, high-performance EVs.
- Sustainability for the future: The focus on cleaner technologies and reduced emissions contributes significantly to India’s clean energy goals and environmental sustainability.
Also read: 4 All-New Hyundai SUVs Launching In India