Mahindra & Mahindra, one of India’s largest automotive manufacturers, is gearing up for an ambitious global expansion, with electric vehicles (EVs) at the heart of its strategy. The company’s latest moves signal a determined push into developed markets, especially the United Kingdom, and a bold reimagining of its product lineup through a new, globally focused platform.
Currently, Mahindra exports its passenger vehicles to South Africa and Australia. But that’s about to change. On August 16, 2025, at a company event in Mumbai, Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director and CEO for auto and farm sectors at Mahindra & Mahindra, announced, “We plan to export EVs to the UK.” According to PTI and other Indian business outlets, this marks a significant step for the company, as it sets its sights on more mature automotive markets where competition is fierce and consumer expectations are high.
This isn’t just a one-off shipment or a tentative foray. Starting in 2027, Mahindra will roll out four new sports utility vehicles (SUVs)—covering petrol, diesel, and electric powertrains—built on a newly developed global platform called Nu.IQ. This platform is designed to produce small-sized SUVs, specifically those under 4 meters, which will complement the company’s existing, larger INGLO platform. The Nu.IQ’s flexibility is a major selling point: it can support both internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and “born” electric vehicles from the same architecture.
“We can have an ICE or a born EV from the same architecture which gives us huge fungibility by the way of mix of EV and ICE, because the platform is generated upfront to meet the global standard of safety and crash,” Jejurikar emphasized at the event, as reported by PTI. This means Mahindra can adapt quickly to shifting consumer preferences and regulatory requirements in different markets—a crucial edge as countries tighten emission standards and push for greener transport options.
The manufacturing muscle behind this expansion is impressive. Mahindra is setting up a production capacity of 240,000 units per year for these four new SUVs at its Chakan plant in Pune, which will push the company's total capacity to a whopping 760,000 units annually. As of August 2025, Mahindra’s monthly production stands at 56,500 ICE vehicles and 8,000 EVs, with 5,000 EVs already operational and the remaining capacity expected to come online by year’s end. Nalinikanth Gollagunta, CEO-auto at Mahindra & Mahindra, explained, “The expansion will add another 20,000 per month, which is fungible between ICE and EV.” The company is also exploring the possibility of further greenfield capacity expansion, hinting at an even broader manufacturing footprint in the future.
All of this is part of a larger investment cycle for fiscal years 2025 to 2027, with Mahindra having earmarked Rs 27,000 crore for these launches and related projects. The Nu.IQ platform, which is central to these plans, is specifically aimed at developed global markets, with the UK identified as a key target. The rollout will happen in phases: first in South Africa and Australia, where Mahindra already has a presence, and then in the UK, where the company plans to launch with EVs first. The current generation of Mahindra EVs will also make its way to the UK, taking advantage of the UK Free Trade Agreement, which helps lower tariff barriers for Indian exports.
“The second phase will be through the UK where we will be going with an EV first. The current generation EV will go to the UK also. The UK FTA is quite helpful. It gives us the opportunity to put our products there at lower tariff barriers. In phase 3, we will target markets beyond that,” Gollagunta said, as cited by PTI.
Mahindra’s ambitions don’t stop at just shipping cars overseas. In South Africa, the company is constructing a semi-knocked down (SKD) facility, which will serve not just South Africa but potentially the entire African continent. This facility is expected to play a pivotal role in Mahindra’s global supply chain, offering flexibility and cost efficiency as it ramps up exports. Gollagunta also pointed out the sheer scale of the opportunity: “The opportunity outside of India is two times the size of the Indian market.” That’s a tantalizing prospect for any automaker, especially one looking to establish itself as a global player.
On the home front, Mahindra is also preparing for future growth. The company is in discussions with the Maharashtra government for a 350-acre site near Igatpuri. According to Jejurikar, “We have submitted a letter of expression of interest to the Maharashtra government.” This site could be used for a supplier park or any other expansion needs, as both the Nashik and Igatpuri plants are currently at full capacity. “We see this plot as a filler because both Nashik and Igatpuri are out of capacity. So, the new land could be used for setting up a supplier park and anything that we may need for Nashik or Igatpuri,” Jejurikar added.
Mahindra’s strategic vision extends beyond automobiles. The group’s hospitality arm, Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India, is also setting ambitious targets. CEO and MD Anish Shah revealed that the company aims to have 10,000 rooms by 2030 and is actively exploring avenues beyond traditional vacation ownership to broaden its presence in the travel and tourism sector. “It (the target) should be much more. It is a good target right now, as a business looks at various options to go beyond vacation ownership…” Shah commented in an interview with PTI Videos. The surge in domestic tourism following the Covid-19 pandemic has prompted Mahindra to rethink its goals, suggesting that even more aggressive expansion could be on the horizon.
All told, Mahindra & Mahindra’s latest moves reflect a company in transformation—one that’s leveraging its engineering expertise, manufacturing scale, and strategic partnerships to carve out a larger slice of the global market. By focusing on flexible platforms like Nu.IQ, targeting developed markets with cutting-edge EVs, and expanding its footprint both at home and abroad, Mahindra is positioning itself for a future where adaptability and innovation are the keys to success. With the UK and Africa firmly in its sights, and a growing presence in hospitality, Mahindra’s next chapter looks to be its boldest yet.