Mahindra is fully committed to achieving success in the electric vehicle (EV) industry, according to Anand Mahindra. He highlights the significance of EVs, considering both environmental and geopolitical perspectives.
Anand Mahindra, Chairman of the Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) Group, emphasized the company’s focus on the electric vehicle (EV) sector despite the emergence of various alternative fuel technologies. He noted that while some companies can afford to invest in multiple technologies, Mahindra is concentrating on one or two, particularly EVs. This decision was shared during his participation in the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet 2024.
Mahindra expressed his belief that EVs are especially suitable for India due to its lack of fossil fuel resources, highlighting their importance from both environmental and geopolitical standpoints. He reassured that Mahindra’s teams are diligently working to excel in the EV industry and are excited about the strong lineup of EVs in development.
Speaking of his connections with Tamil Nadu, Mahindra, an alumnus of a school in Ooty, praised the state’s emphasis on education. He recalled the time when the Mahindra-Ford joint venture was considering locations for a car factory, and despite initially overlooking Tamil Nadu for various reasons, Ford’s team recognized the state’s superior engineering talent pool, leading to Chennai becoming the preferred location.
He shared a personal anecdote about the Mahindra Research Valley project near Chennai. Despite initial hesitations due to the absence of a nearby factory, Mahindra advocated for the project’s location in Chennai, valuing the region’s talent, intelligence, and creativity. This decision led to the co-location of Mahindra’s tractor and auto R&D units there, making the Mahindra Research Valley a significant and proud part of the company’s portfolio.
