Mahindra is preparing to scale up its electric SUV portfolio with a sharper focus on India’s growing appetite for large, spacious EVs. The company launched its all-new XEV 9S on Thursday, aimed at prospective buyers who want it all.
Speaking to the media at the launch conference, R Velusamy, President of Automotive Technology and Product Development at Mahindra & Mahindra, said the company’s upcoming XEV 9S architecture is being shaped directly by customer behaviour, real-world usage data, and the cultural meaning of “big vehicles” in India.
While the early ESUVs have helped build trust and pride among EV adopters, Velusamy said a new layer of customer expectations is emerging, one centered around size, presence, and comfort for larger families.
India Wants Big, Commanding EVs, Not Just Compact Crossovers
“A businessman came to me and said, ‘It’s fantastic for me, but I want a big, commanding Mahindra presence on the road,’” Velusamy recounted. This demand, he explained, is consistent across urban and semi-urban buyers who prefer Large Comfortable Body (LCBs) vehicles, something he calls “a state of mind, not a segment.”
Velusamy revealed that Mahindra’s existing electric SUVs have clocked over 200 million kilometres, with two-thirds of owners driving them daily. More than 9,000 customers completed 400 km in a single day, reinforcing Mahindra’s confidence in the ESUV’s 500 km real-world range and 30-minute fast-charging capability.
“These numbers confirm what we’ve been saying,” he noted, pointing out that this validation is now influencing the company’s next wave of EVs.
Three Rows, Equal Comfort, and Family-Centric Features
According to him, India’s next big EV opportunity lies in true three-row electric vehicles, not ones with compromised last rows, but with equal comfort, large screens, and premium features in all rows.
“Why should the second row not get the same screens and competencies as the first row?” he asked, adding that children now expect entertainment freedom and seamless digital access in the cabin.
Future EVs Must Feel ‘Indian’, Not Imported
Velusamy emphasised that innovation must be blended with India’s tradition, culture, and usage patterns. “The future should not feel foreign. It should feel like the next step of who we already are – the lovers of big LCBs,” he said.
He listed distinct Indian priorities beyond powertrain: Family space and inclusivity, ease of entry and exit, cabin quietness, a sense of community travel, and freedom to go anywhere.
This behavioural data, he said, shaped the Mahindra XEV 9S, the company’s first large, three-row electric SUV family.
Creating a New Template for Big EVs in India
Velusamy believes big EVs in India will become everyday living spaces, not occasional SUVs. Mahindra aims to deliver 500+ km of real-world range, ultra-quiet interiors (“you can hear your inner voice now”), 20-minute top-up charging experiences, and innovation rooted in Indian cultural codes.
He said Mahindra’s next launch will offer “freedom to include, freedom to express, and freedom to experience comfort equally across the vehicle,” signalling a significant departure from traditional three-row designs.
Mahindra’s challenge and opportunity is to redefine what a big EV means for India’s families: “It’s no longer just about power, range, or screens. It’s about identity, inclusivity, and pride. That’s where the next big EV wave in India will come from.”