Tata Motors, Mahindra to partner in joint EV project called REVO
06 Apr 2022
Home grown Indian auto majors Tata Motors and Mahindra and Mahindra have teamed up to form an alliance for development and production of electric vehicles (EV) to face of impending competition from global OEMs.
The two domestic rivals - both of whom have ambitious electric vehicle (EV) plans - will partner in a joint EV project, details of which are being finalised, reports citing sources close to the development said.
The joint project has been codenamed REVO - and alludes to revving or accelerating their mutual EV plans. REVO also houses the abbreviation EV, and while Tata Motors has used this name as a prefix for its ICE powertrains, Mahindra also began its EV programme with the acquisition of Reva Electric.
If the plans succeed, this will be the second local alliance after the alliance of Japanese auto majors – Toyota and Suzuki- in the Indian market.
The proposed alliance is expected to focus on the development of a compact SUV sized vehicle - something that is currently missing in the portfolio of both players. While Tata has showed a Sierra concept EV at the 2020 Delhi Auto Expo, Mahindra is rumoured to have already begun work on a compact vehicle on the W601 platform, tipped to be the XUV400.
Both Tata Motors and Mahindra and Mahindra have own born electric strategy and the alliance may borrow from each other’s platform to find common ground. Reports said it may involve the use of Tata's SIGMA skateboard platform. However, senior executives from both companies are only finalising the details of the project.
Reports said Vidyut Vahankar, who has recently relocated from California's Bay Area to join Mahindra Electric, may head the business while Indravajr Bijuria whom Tata Motors has brought in from group company Tata Power, could be the chief spokesperson. M&M will take up the designing job while Tata Motors will be providing engineering and proof-of-concept services.
responsibilities vehicle proving will likely be headed by Tata's EV line team. Product strategy is expected to be shaped by the top leadership at both companies. All the key responsibilities are yet to be set in stone according to the banker, and we await more details on the same.
Mahindra is rumoured to have already begun work on a compact vehicle on the W601 platform, tipped to be the XUV400, while Tata Motors has revealed its new Curvv EV concept. The Tata Curvv EV Concept previews a new midsize coupe SUV. Tata will also bring an internal combustion engine (ICE) powered version in the future.
The teaser video hinted at several possibilities on the electric offering, which included the new Sierra EV, Punch EV or even the long-rumoured Nexon Coupe EV. However, the final concept is much different and larger from expectations.
While Tata has had a head start with the Nexon EV and Tigor EV already in the market, having sold over 11,000 units already , M&M, which had an early start with the eVerito project and the eKUV and eXUV300 models, failed to catch up.
M&M also runs a team in the FIA Formula E World Championship, and owns Automobili Pininfarina - whose first product, the Battista is an electric hypercar.
EVs are being heralded as the big opportunity for Indian auto makers - as also other global players. Both Anand Mahindra and Ratan Tata have also spoken in favour of big investments towards this end.