Mahindra & Mahindra comes out with all guns blazing at India’s premier, week-long automotive show

As India’s premier, week-long automotive show, Auto Expo 2010 came to a grand finale on January 11th, the top brass at the country’s leading automotive manufacturer, Mahindra & Mahindra, had good reason to congratulate themselves on a job well done. The USD 6.3 billion company had come out with all guns blazing at the auto show with a display of its entire vehicle portfolio including three concept vehicles and 14 under-production vehicles. These included eco-friendly vehicles such as the Alfa Hydrogen Passenger. This is a 3-wheeler vehicle that runs on nothing but compressed hydrogen gas.

The company also displayed a wide range of advanced powertrain solution and different platforms of drivable full hybrid vehicles, micro (start/stop) hybrid vehicles, bio-fuel vehicles, an electric passenger vehicle, a hydrogen combustion engine vehicle and many recyclable materials and reusable technologies. B100 and B20 biodiesel vehicles on Scorpio and Bolero platforms were also showcased. Mahindra and Mahindra has an ambitious biofuel program that has been kick-started by production-ready B5 and B10 vehicles.

“Our eco-friendly vehicles are proof of our commitment to a cleaner environment, fuel efficiency, and emphasis on customer satisfaction. Mahindra’s range of drivable SUV hybrids and biofuel vehicles are well suited for the dense traffic conditions and driving habits of our customers,” said Anand Mahindra, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Mahindra & Mahindra.

The other vehicles showcased by Mahindra & Mahindra at the Auto Expo 2010 included company’s two-wheelers such as the Mahindra Rodeo, the Mahindra Duro and the Mahindra Flyte, along with a concept bike from Engines Engineering. Also on display was India’s first indigenous compact truck, the GIO. The company’s new mini-truck Maxximo was also on display. The Maxximo boasts of the world’s most advanced engine in the mini-truck segment. The company also highlighted the battery operated concept version of the mini-truck.

“The Auto Expo is the perfect platform to showcase Mahindra’s commitment to technological advancements and innovative automotive solutions that are showcased in our gamut of vehicles from two wheelers to commercial vehicles. At Mahindra &
Mahindra, we incessantly strive to elevate our product line-up and customers to the next level of technology,” said Pawan Goenka, President, Automotive Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra and President, Society of Indian Automotive Manufacturers (SIAM). The Auto Expo was organized by SIAM, the Automotive Component Manufacturers of India or ACMA and the Confederation of Indian Industry or CII.

Taking pride of place at the Mahindra stall was the iconic sports utitilty vehicle the Scorpio in a new limited edition, India’s leading UV, the Bolero and the XYLO. The entire range of commercial vehicles from the Mahindra Navistar stable has also been unveiled at the Expo for the first time. Also on display at the Mahindra & Mahindra stall was the Logan Tourer – the Logan is made in collaboration with Renault. The Logan Tourer is a special edition vehicle from the Mahindra Renault stable which has been co-branded in association with VIP, India’s leading luggage brand. Mahindra & Mahindra has a joint venture with US firm Navistar Inc. The joint venture, Mahindra Navistar Automotives Ltd, was represented at the Auto Expo with its array of commercial vehicles on display – this included the 25 and 21 tonne trucks, the 25 and 40 tonne tippers, a 49 tonne tractor and a 32-seater bus.