Unwilling to settle down after earning laurels through XUV 500, Anand Mahindra, Vice-Chairman, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), recently said that the process of producing varied SUV platforms in collaboration with Ssangyong is underway.
These efforts would take the shape of its line-up offered to the Indian market in the coming time. The company has also been focussing on bringing the unproductive two-wheeler and heavy-commercial productions on track. These categories have been experiencing slow growth in the Indian auto sector.
On being asked whether M&M is facing the repercussions of going too fast with everything in the auto industry, Anand Mahindra said that the company has the potential of going a long way. He added that M&M has been highlighted by many for trying to achieve anything and everything without paying heed to its capacity.
M&M has faced interminable questions regarding its impatience towards leading all the segments of the auto sector in one go. Mahindra said that he has been answering such questions for almost 20 years now. "I think we have the conviction and plan and we have good execution skills" he was quoted as saying.
Mahindra said that the company will produce a slew of class-defining SUVs in the future. Pointing out to the big advantage that has come the company's way following the Ssangyong buy, he said that the two companies would be sharing platforms. Thus, the upcoming aces by Mahindra would be worked upon using Ssangyong's technologies and know-how.
While the company is boosted up by the success that came XUV 500's way right from the start, the two-wheeler business that came into being after acquiring Kinetic has not got the big break in Indian auto sector. The heavy commercial vehicle venture in association with American Navistar has also been struggling to rise.
Mahindra stated that the company is completely aware of the lows that the two-wheeler and CV businesses have been going through and exclusive steps are being put into action in order to take control of the situation. Terming these segments as "oligopolistic industries", he said that M&M will prove its mettle in these categories in the long-run. "It takes time and effort, but if anyone can do it, it is us."
Mahindra confirmed that a large-scale in-house research and development with great capabilities is the call of the hour for the purpose of uplifting the two ventures. "The key for us in both trucks and two-wheelers is to have our own very strong and robust product development capability. If you look at the secret and success of the XUV, it is about being very innovative." Commenting on the possibility of bringing out products for the passenger car segment of the auto sector, Mahindra said that any such plan would be worked upon through collaborations.
Hence, with undeterred and strategic intentions, M&M would irrefutably come out with a line-up full of aces in the future.
