Mahindra and Mahindra has signed a supply agreement on components with German automaker Volkswagen Group to accelerate the electric mobility vision of both the parties. Volkswagen will provide components from its Modular electric drive matrix (MEB) platform for EVs for Mahindra’s purpose-built electric platform INGLO. As a part of the deal the German automaker will supply certain electric components as well as unified cells to the latter, deepening the collaboration between the parties. Both the companies first signed a partnering agreement and a term sheet in 2022.
After this deal, Mahindra will become the first external partner to use Volkswagen’s innovative unified cell concept, which is the core element of its battery strategy. The supply agreement will run over several years with a total volume of about 50 GWh over lifetime.
The collaboration is significant for Mahindra as it plans to launch five all-electric SUVs in India based on the INGLO platform, starting from December 2024. As India is one the largest automotive markets in the world with more than five million new vehicles per year, both Mahindra and Volkswagen aim to strengthen their e-mobility footprint in the company. In the coming years, the electrification of the passenger car segment is expected to gain significant momentum.
Currently, Volkswagen’s MEB platform and its components are used by the Group brands such as Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda and SEAT/CUPRA as well as external partner Ford, alongside Mahindra now. The partnership with Mahindra is led by Volkswagen Group Technology and its Platform Business unit in close cooperation with Skoda Auto Volkswagen India. Volkswagen opened its MEB platform for sharing with manufacturers outside of the Group in 2018. Additionally, it also offered individual components as well as top hat development and contract manufacturing.
As of 2023, Volkswagen’s MEB platform underpins nine core models, with eight of them in active production, resulting in a total of 13 different vehicles. These models include Audi Q4 e-tron, Audi Q5 e-tron, Ford Explorer EV, Skoda Enyaq iV Coupe, and Volkswagen ID. family, to name a few.