Schmall wants to contribute significantly to the electrification of India
Volkswagen and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd (M&M) are exploring the use of MEB electric components for Mahindra’s new ‘“Born Electric Platform’” under a Partnering Agreement signed on 18 May 2022 to evaluate the scope of collaboration.
Mahindra intends to equip its ‘“Born Electric Platform’” with MEB electric components such as electric motors, battery system components and battery cells.
The Partnering Agreement evaluates the scope of collaboration and indicates binding rules for the evaluation phase as well as the non-binding scope of supply.
The binding supply agreement will be negotiated in a continued constructive and legally compliant way to conclude by the end of 2022.
Designed as an open vehicle platform, the MEB electric platform and its components allows car manufacturers to build their portfolio of electrified vehicles, quickly and cost-effectively.
The shared objective of the two companies is to electrify the Indian automotive market, one of the most important automotive growth markets and a key element in the global decarbonisation of the mobility sector.
Thomas Schmall, Volkswagen Group Board of Management member for Technology and CEO of Volkswagen Group Components, stated, “Mahindra is a pioneer in the electric mobility space in India and a great partner for our MEB Electric Platform. Together with Mahindra, we want to contribute significantly to the electrification of India, a huge automotive market with enormous growth potential and high relevance for climate protection.
“It’s another proof point that the MEB is both technologically state of the art and highly competitive in terms of cost.
“The MEB is thus progressively developing into the leading open platform for e-mobility, generating significant volume and economies of scale. That’s crucial for every company in the EV world and the key to competitive solutions for our customers,” he said after signing the agreement in Chennai.
Commenting on the partnership, Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director, Auto and Farm Sectors, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, stated: “We are very pleased to have Volkswagen, a significant global investor in the electric mobility space, as a strategic partner in achieving our ambitious Born Electric Vison.
“The complementarity of their extensive technology, innovation, and vertical integration in supply chains, will provide a framework to develop our next- gen ‘“Born Electric Platform’”, to be revealed soon in Oxfordshire, UK. Our teams across India, UK and Detroit, are passionately creating a breath-taking future.”
India is one of the Global Top-5 Automotive Markets, with about three million vehicles per year. According to current forecasts, the market could grow to up to five million vehicles by 2030. So far, the market has been dominated by vehicles with diesel or petrol engines.
However, at the 2021 Climate Summit in Glasgow, India undertook only to register zero-emission passenger cars and vans, starting in 2035. As a result, the electrification of the passenger car segment is expected to gain significant momentum in the coming years. Industry experts anticipate that in 2030 more than half of all new vehicles will be fully electric.
Today, Volkswagen’s MEB Electric Platform is used by the Group brands Volkswagen, Audi, SKODA and SEAT/CUPRA as well as external partners. Responsibility for these partnerships has been assigned to the “Platform Business” unit created specifically for this purpose.
Founded in 1945, the Mahindra Group is one of the largest and most admired multinational federation of companies with 260,000 employees in over 100 countries. It enjoys a leadership positionin farm equipment, utility vehicles, information technology and financial services in India and is the world’s largest tractor company by volume. It has a strong presence in renewable energy, agriculture, logistics, hospitality and real estate.
The Mahindra Group has a clear focus on leading ESG globally, enabling rural prosperity and enhancing urban living, with a goal to drive positive change in the lives of communities and stakeholders to enable them to Rise.
Headquartered in Pune, ŠKODA AUTO Volkswagen India Private Limited (SAVWIPL) is the company that represents the passenger vehicle brands of Volkswagen Group in India. SAVWIPL was formed following the merger of Volkswagen India Private Limited (VWIPL), ŠKODA AUTO India Private Limited (SAIPL), and Volkswagen Group Sales India Private Limited (NSC). Brand ŠKODA was given lead responsibilities for managing the operations of the group brands in India. The combined entity oversees the Indian operations of five brands – ŠKODA AUTO, Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche and Lamborghini.
The Volkswagen Group implemented its INDIA 2.0 project with an investment of one billion Euros in India from 2019 to 2022. Under the project, the Group designed and produced four cars – ŠKODA KUSHAQ, Volkswagen Taigun, ŠKODA SLAVIA and Volkswagen Virtus, customized for India at the Group’s Pune facility in Chakan. SAVWIPL operates two manufacturing facilities – at Chakan, Pune and Shendra, Aurangabad.
SAVWIPL is committed to India and will continue to serve Indian customers with an array of desirable, high-quality automobiles that reflect the needs of the Indian customer and their aspirations. fiinews.com
