India’s Mahindra plans Australian electric vehicle assault with batteries from China’s BYD

The Indian SUV and ute manufacturer Mahindra has revealed a tough electric concept that looks like a readymade rival for the Jeep Wrangler and GWM Tank.

Dubbed the Vision Thar.e it is intended to showcase both the electric opportunities presented by Mahindra’s latest ‘INGLO’ architecture and a new design direction for the brand.

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Thar.e is more than a flight of fancy as Mahindra has recently declared plans to add electric vehicles to its Australian line-up in coming years.

Mahindra has globally revealed plans for five EVs split into two families – XUV.e and BE – starting in 2024

These EVs designed at Mahindra’s UK tech centre are the XUV:e8 and XUV:e9 SUVs and the BE:05, BE.07 and BE.09 crossovers.

“Amongst our priority markets Australia is really up there,” Mahindra Automotive president Veejay Nakra told EV Central‘s Toby Hagon at a recent media event.

“There is a full range of EVs that we are creating. We are currently in the process of understanding from a product market fit which of those (EVs) we want to bring to Australia.

“I don’t think we might need all five of them for Australia.

“We need to understand the consumer segments, which ones would be more relevant for this market and then plan accordingly.”

The XUV brand is already present in Australia via the diesel XUV700 SUV, and EVs in this group will be shared developments with ICE models. BE stands for ‘Born Electric’ and these vehicles will be developed from scratch only as EVs.

When these plans were announced, Mahindra declared an intention to use Volkswagen Group architectures and battery packs.

But China’s BYD is now reported to have taken the role of battery supplier and France’s Valeo is responsible for motors because of delays at VW.

Volkswagen is still expected to eventually become a battery supplier to Mahindra.

Thar is already the name of a model in the Mahindra line-up, but its Australian presence has been blocked in the courts by Jeep because of its similar design to the CJ Wrangler.

But the Thar.e has a much more futuristic look. Unveiled at a Mahindra event in South Africa, it will be based on a modified form of the India Global (hence INGLO) ladder frame platform called P1.

It is expected to have dual e-motor all-wheel drive, but detailed specs have not been revealed.

Mahindra currently sells one electric SUV in India, the small XUV400 and is a leader in the electric three-wheeler segment.

At the opposite end of the scale, Mahindra also funds and owns the Pininfarina EV supercar company.