Work between Mahindra and Volkswagen is not progressing at the expected pace. The Indian group has therefore chosen to turn to other suppliers for the batteries and motors of its future electric models.
Just a year ago, the Indian conglomerate Mahindra&Mahindra was particularly proud to announce an agreement with Volkswagen which gave it access to certain components of the MEB platform. Clearly, Mahindra electric vehicles based on its Inglo platform were to take advantage of the German group’s batteries and electric motors.
But these plans seem seriously questioned, because of the delay taken by the German group. Volkswagen would indeed not be able to deliver the planned LFP batteries to its partner before 2026 or 2027, whereas the initial agreement mentioned 2024… The management of Wolfsburg has given priority to new unified cell batteries at scale of the group, based on NMC chemistry.
A delay that could well benefit BYD. The large battery specialist LFP seems to be on the right track to becoming the new reference supplier of the Inglo platform. Which could also relaunch the Chinese group’s investment projects in India, recently called into question because of the reluctance of the government in New Delhi.
Mahindra will also take the opportunity to choose a new engine, which would be supplied by the French equipment supplier Valeo.
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