Getting to know Mahindra

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine car industry is a lot like the local restaurant business. Both are booming, not just in terms of sheer number of delectable models available, but in terms of the number of countries from where they’re coming. 

One can even liken them to international cuisine. We’ve got Japanese, Korean, American, Italian, French, Chinese, German, and now, Indian. We first got a taste of Indian fare when the Tata brand rolled out their line of small cars and pickups last year.

Now we’re about to get another brand in Mahindra. Mahindra is the largest utility vehicle manufacturer in India and the biggest purveyor of tractors in the world. It was founded by K.C. and J.C. Mahindra and Malik Ghulam Mohammed as a steel trading company in 1945 and was originally named Mahindra & Mohammed. In 1948, Mohammed emigrated to Pakistan and the company was renamed Mahindra & Mahindra. 

It eventually expanded into manufacturing utility vehicles, starting with the assembly of the Willys Jeep in India. The company later commenced manufacturing light commercial vehicles (LCVs) and agricultural tractors. Today, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) is a leading player in the utility vehicle manufacturing and branding sectors in the Indian automobile industry with its flagship XUV sport utility vehicle and uses India’s growing global market presence in both the automotive and farming industries to push its products in other countries.

In recent years, the company has taken interest in new industries and in foreign markets. They entered the two-wheeler industry by taking over Kinetic Motors in India. M&M also has fully acquired REVA Electric Car Company as well as South Korea’s SsangYong Motor Company, the latter in 2011.

In India, Mahindra enjoys a leadership position in utility vehicles, information technology, tractors, and even vacation ownership. They have a growing presence in the global automotive industry, aerospace, aftermarket components, consulting services, defense, energy, financial services, logistics, real estate, retail, and two wheelers. A US$16.5 billion multinational group based in Mumbai, India, Mahindra employs more than 180,000 people in over 100 countries.

I recently managed to visit three of Mahindra’s modern manufacturing plants on the outskirts of Mumbai, where its head office is located. I’d stop short of calling it cutting-edge or industry-leading, but it is certainly at par or at least very close to the levels of technology as that of several manufacturing plants I’ve visited—and I’ve visited plants in Munich, Maranello, Busan, Yokohama, and Detroit.

People tend to forget that India is a major international manufacturing hub (and that it is one of a handful of Asian nuclear superpowers)—so technology and know-how are certainly not wanting. I was impressed to learn that much of Mahindra’s manufacturing processes and equipment are the same as those used by its counterparts in Europe, America, and Asia. And while the robotic welders and painters and the stamping machines are the very same ones used by major manufacturers, Mahindra is justifiably proud to point out that almost 100 percent of its raw materials and body, engine, suspension and interior components are locally sourced. Truth be told, the build quality, the features and specifications, and the overall performance of the Mahindra models I got to try out are all at par, or at least quite close, to what the best of the mass market brands from Japan, Korea, Europe, and America can offer.

I also got to drive practically the whole range of Mahindra models on a small oval test track inside the plant—including taking one on an expert-level off-road course (which I and the vehicle successfully managed). Here’s a quick rundown of the vehicles, some of which will be imported into the Philippines:

Bolero/Enforcer

The Bolero will spearhead the Mahindra brand once it arrives in the Philippines. It will be renamed the Enforcer for the Philippine market. The Bolero comes as a two- and four-door pickup as well as a fully enclosed SUV about the size of the current Ford Everest. In the latter guise, it can be mistaken for a Mercedes G-Wagen 4x4, thanks to its bolt-upright styling. In the former, it resembles a somewhat narrower Humvee pickup due to its utilitarian door frame design.

It comes with a variety of 2.5-liter direct-injection turbocharged diesel engines mated to a 5-speed transmission. While all Bolero/Enforcer models have rigid rear axles with leaf springs, some have a front rigid axle with leaf springs while others have front independent suspension with coil springs, depending on the body configuration.

While the pickups have bare-bones features, the SUV model is decidedly more sophisticated in looks and features. It boasts all the modern niceties like all-power features, digital gauges, trip computer, keyless entry security system with engine immobilizer, wood-grain dashboard trim, and auxiliary 12V power points. 

Scorpio and XUV

These are Mahindra’s upscale SUVs, with the monocoque-bodied XUV being the new flagship that embodies Mahindra’s automotive technology prowess. The Scorpio is an 8-seater body-on-frame SUV with a fully independent multi-link/coil spring suspension. It’s powered by a 2.2- or 2.5-liter common-rail diesel engine (there is also a 2.2-liter petrol engine) mated to a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic.

The flagship midsize XUV is Mahindra’s model that boasts the company’s latest “international market” styling and lightweight monocoque body with high-strength steel construction. It sports sleek, contemporary lines backed up by equally contemporary levels of performance, build quality, and refinement.

The XUV features leather seats with two-tone interiors, GPS navigation with 6” TFT/DVD touchscreen infotainment system, voice-activated cruise and audio controls, auto start/stop, a tire pressure monitoring system, smart automatic headlamps and wipers, mobile charging points on all three rows, dual exhausts, a reverse parking assist system, six airbags, Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with Rollover Mitigation, ABS with EBD, and Hill Hold with Hill Descent Control. It’s powered by a 2.2-liter CRDi motor with Variable Geometry Turbocharger (VGT) developing 140 hp and 330 Nm of torque mated to a 6-speed manual transmission and has fully independent front MacPherson strut/ rear multilink suspension. 

Pik Up and Genio

The two-door Pik Up is Mahindra’s workhorse pickup while the four-door Genio is its more upmarket version. Both come with 2.2-liter common-rail diesel engines and come in different lengths and wheelbases. They’re more modern and sophisticated than the Bolero and boast features like sleek, car-like styling and a Borg-Warner transfer case for the 4WD models. The Genio even has cruise and audio controls on the steering wheel as well as an audio system with CD/MP3/SD card/USB connectivity.

Xylo

The vehicle I spent the most time in when I was being driven around as well as in and out of Mumbai, the Xylo is a modern-looking minivan slightly smaller than a Toyota Innova. Depending on the configuration and trim level, the Xylo can seat seven, eight, or nine people. It’s powered by either a 2.5-liter CRDi diesel engine with 95ps and 218 Nm of torque or Mahindra’s state-of-the-art mHawk CRDi motor developing 120ps and 280 Nm of torque.

The Xylo rides on an independent coil spring double wishbone front suspension and rear multi-links, also with coil springs. High-end versions boast captain’s seats for the middle row, seats covered in Italian leather, and a full suite of electronic safety and convenience features including a voice-activated audio system and hands-free mobile phone connectivity. There’s a big chance the Xylo will be imported to the Philippines.

Quanto

Yet another model that we highly recommended to Mahindra officials to bring to the Philippines, the Quanto is a 5-seat minivan/SUV crossover that is similar in concept and size to the Ford EcoSport. It’s basically a tall-boy hatchback with roof rails, a high ground clearance, and an exposed spare tire hanging out the rear hatch/tailgate for that SUV look. It’s strictly 2WD, though, so you might want to think twice before tramping around in soft mud in it.

The Quanto is powered by an mHawk 2.2-liter CRDi diesel engine with 120 ps and 280 or 290 Nm of torque, depending on the emissions levels (the Euro 5 version has the lower torque number than the Euro 2/4 version due to its slightly more restrictive exhaust).  The car looks sporty and upscale enough to attract a huge market—from college students to first-time car buyers who prefer an SUV or crossover over a small sedan. It has the versatile multi-configurable seats of typical SUVs/crossovers.

Thar

A legacy of Mahindra’s licensing agreement with the original Willys Jeep, the Thar looks almost unchanged from the WWII-era 4WD pioneer—which means that it looks just as ruggedly handsome now as it did then. It’s been modernized, though, with power steering and a modern 2.5-liter CRDi engine mated to a five-speed manual with a Borg-Warner High/Low 4WD transfer case and auto-locking hubs. It rides on an independent front suspension with torsion bars, a solid rear axle with leaf springs, and big 16-inch wheels with true off-road tires. I took this baby over the worst that Mahindra’s off-road course could throw at it and it grunted its way through with the tenacity of a pit bull. Impressive.