Would you drive home this Made-in-India XEV 9e? Mahindra makes bold electric vehicle leap

Picture this: Mahindra pulls up to the global EV race with its XEV 9e, wearing the confident look of a compact electric SUV. 

Packed with jaw-dropping tech, an impressive range, and homegrown pride, it’s ready to take on EV industry top guns.

So, how does the XEV 9e stack up against something like the Tesla Model Y?

Car reviewers like Faisal Khan were been blown away by the speed, tech, build quality, handling – and price.

While Tesla might brag about its space-age Autopilot and supercharger network, Mahindra isn’t just playing catch-up — it’s serving personality. 

Range anxiety buster

The XEV 9e marks a big step in the Mahindra's EV lineup. It has got a rugged, premium SUV vibe that could eat dirt tracks for breakfast. The 282- BHP electric motor delivers to the rear wheels, revving it up from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.8 seconds.

So, with its impressive 656-km range (WLTP) on a single charge, would that be enough to beat range anxiety?

Battery

Mahindra has worked with established industry leaders, having reportedly sourced it battery cells from China's BYD, utilising the brand's cutting-edge Blade battery technology, as per HT Auto. 

The battery packs (59 kWh, with a 542-km range | 79 kWh, with a 656-km range on one charge) are developed and assembled under at the brand's state-of-the-art facility for testing batteries at the Mahindra Research Valley in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Performance

Mahindra goes for grandeur in the interiors — a panoramic sunroof, a three-screen dashboard (why have one when you can have three?), and a sound system (Harman Kardon speakers). 

Able to juice up to 80% in 20 minutes (from 20%, using a 140kW DC fast charger), the XEV 9e vehicle comes with a three-screen dashboard, panoramic sunroof, Level 2 ADAS suite, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.

For safety, it sports 7 airbags, a fatigue alert, 5-star rating in the Bharat NCAP crash tests.

And don’t forget the spicy price point — it brings luxury without setting your wallet ablaze.

XEV 9e and BE 6e:

In November 2024, Mahindra actually unveiled two electric SUVs: the BE 6e and XEV 9e.

Both are built on the new INGLO platform designed specifically for electric vehicles. The BE 6e is priced starting at $22,500, while the XEV 9e starts at $26,000, as per Reuters.

Would you drive it home?

The XEV 9e is a ruggedly stylish, outdoorsy EV that can handle city streets or weekend escapes. 

By combining luxury, performance, and advanced technology, it could be a a strong contender in the electric SUV market.

In this showdown of electrifying personalities, it’s not just about horsepower — it’s about heart.

Pedigree

Mahindra & Mahindra, an Indian auto maker headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, was established in 1945 as a steel trading business. It has since grown into a global brand. 

The company has made substantial investments in EV technology, having poured in over $500 million in the project, part of a larger $2 billion (200 crores) war chest allocated over five years for its EV drive.