Indian automobile maker Mahindra and Mahindra Limited and German carmaker Volkswagen have signed a partnering agreement to explore the use of latter's MEB electric components for Mahindra’s new “Born Electric Platform”.
The partnering agreement to evaluate the scope of collaboration was signed on Wednesday (18 May).
Mahindra intends to equip its “Born Electric Platform” with MEB electric components such as electric motors, battery system components and battery cells, a joint statement said on Thursday (19 May).
The Partnering Agreement evaluates the scope of collaboration – it indicates binding rules for the evaluation phase as well as the non-binding scope of supply, it added.
The binding supply agreement will be negotiated in a continued constructive and legally compliant way to conclude by the end of 2022.
Designed as an open vehicle platform, the MEB electric platform and its components allows car manufacturers to build their portfolio of electrified vehicles, quickly and cost-effectively.
The shared objective of the two companies is to electrify the Indian automotive market, one of the most important automotive growth markets and a key element in the global decarbonisation of the mobility sector.
Thomas Schmall, Volkswagen Group Board of Management member for Technology and CEO of Volkswagen Group Components: “Mahindra is a pioneer in the electric mobility space in India and a great partner for our MEB Electric Platform".
"Together with Mahindra, we want to contribute significantly to the electrification of India, a huge automotive market with enormous growth potential and high relevance for climate protection. It’s another proof point that the MEB is both technologically state of the art and highly competitive in terms of cost. The MEB is thus progressively developing into the leading open platform for e-mobility, generating significant volume and economies of scale. That’s crucial for every company in the EV world and the key to competitive solutions for our customers," Schmall said, according to a company statement.
Commenting on the partnership, Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director, Auto and Farm Sectors, Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd stated, “We are very pleased to have Volkswagen, a significant global investor in the electric mobility space, as a strategic partner in achieving our ambitious Born Electric Vison".
"The complementarity of their extensive technology, innovation, and vertical integration in supply chains, will provide a framework to develop our next gen “Born Electric Platform”, to be revealed soon in Oxfordshire UK. Our teams across India, UK and Detroit are passionately creating a breath-taking future," Jejurikar said.