Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M Ltd.), India’s leading utility vehicle manufacturer, rolled out its five millionth vehicle from the company’s automotive plant at Kandivali, Mumbai. The company’s legendary 4×4 off-roader, the Mahindra Thar, was rolled out as the five millionth vehicle.
Dr. Pawan Goenka, M&M Executive Director, rolled out the vehicle at a ceremony attended by the company workers, union representatives and other officials in early January. Mahindra’s Auto Sector achieved the four million vehicle production milestone in 2012 and has surpassed the five million mark in just two years. This milestone is the result of the combined vehicle production from the company’s six automotive plants at Chakan, Nasik, Haridwar, Zaheerabad, Kandivali, and its engine plant at Igatpuri.
Acknowledging the milestone, Mr. Anand Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra Group, said: “This roll-out of our five millionth vehicle marks an important milestone in our automotive journey over the past seven decades. It is also a reflection of the commitment and can-do spirit of our people who continually strive to raise their game while producing world class vehicles”.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Pawan Goenka, Executive Director, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., observed: “Today marks a momentous and landmark day in the history of Mahindra’s Automotive Division. There are few companies which can identify as closely with India’s destiny and industrial progress as Mahindra can. In our evolving journey to becoming India’s leading SUV manufacturer, we have pushed the boundaries and taken on new challenges at every step. I dedicate this achievement to each and every member of the Mahindra family.”
Mr. Pravin Shah, Chief Executive, Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., said: “This milestone signifies the relentless effort put in by the Mahindra family, and today I would like to congratulate each one of them. Our plants have been at the epicentre of our sustained growth through the years and bear testimony to the manufacturing excellence which we have developed. With the commitment of one and all, I am sure that this milestone will be a stepping stone to many more accolades in our automotive journey”.
Mahindra Automotive Sector is today a full-range player with presence in almost every segment of the automobile industry, from commercial vehicles (3-wheelers / light commercial vehicles and heavy commercial vehicles), utility vehicles, and sports utility vehicles (from entry level to premium SUVs) to sedans and electric vehicles.
The company’s world-class automotive manufacturing facilities are located at Chakan, Nasik, Haridwar, Zaheerabad, Kandivali, and Igatpuri which is the location of its engine plant. These plants boast of fully-equipped manufacturing facilities in the press shop, body shop, CED line, paint shop and assembly, and some of them have won several awards and accolades since inception. In fact, the group’s most recently established world-class auto manufacturing plant in the industrial hub of Chakan, in Maharashtra, is spread across 700 acres and has set a new benchmark for Mahindra’s production capabilities.
M&M’s auto sales numbers stood at 39,930 units during January 2015, of which domestic sales accounted for 37,045 units and exports stood at 2,885 units, a growth of 22 per cent. The truck and bus division of the company sold 796 units, registering a 10 per cent growth over the same period last year.
Customer-centric products
The focus of Mahindra’s automotive division has always been on developing new products and technologies to meet the ever-growing customer needs and regulatory emission and safety requirements. In 2013-14, the company launched the Bolero Maxi Truck Plus (BMT Plus) and the New Bolero PU Flat Bed. The Bolero Maxi Truck Plus has been designed to meet the challenges of transportation in urban areas. The product easily manoeuvres through heavy traffic, narrow city lanes and flyovers, while still ensuring best-in-class fuel economy. This is enhanced by a higher load carrying capacity and improved safety measures for customers.
The new Bolero Pick-Up Flat Bed, with more modern, macho and stylish looks and superior fuel efficiency, is also a step in this direction as it delivers greater earning potential for customers while retaining the basic tough and rugged DNA associated with Mahindra vehicles.
A couple of product development programs for the automotive division are underway at the Mahindra North American Technical Centre at Detroit in the US. Sustainable mobility solutions being the key focus area, some of the thrust areas in this direction were weight reduction by using alternate materials, designing modularity to take care of variants and the Value Analysis Value Engineering (VAVE) approach for meeting cost pressures. Development and adaptation of safety technologies and emission targets were also given focus. The company had spent Rs. 1,300.94 crores (including Rs. 660.67 crores on capital expenditure) for R&D during 2013-14, which was approximately 2.97 per cent of the company’s total turnover.
Over the last four years, the company has taken many steps in its journey towards becoming a globally recognised automotive manufacturer. Some of the key initiatives were setting up of the Mahindra Vehicle Manufacturers Ltd. (MVML) plant at Chakan, establishing a modern product development facility, the Mahindra Research Valley (MRV), near Chennai, and acquisition of Ssangyong Motor Company in South Korea and a majority stake in Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicles Private Ltd.
MVML, a 100 per cent subsidiary of the company produced one lakh vehicles in 2013-14. MRV which was built at an investment of Rs. 650 crores houses all new technology and product programs of the company and is home to over 2,500 engineers.
Environment and alternate fuels
Stringent regulatory norms are being introduced to safeguard the environment, especially in the area of emissions. The company has invested in appropriate technologies to meet these regulations. At present, there is demand for vehicles powered by CNG and LPG. Mahindra is well prepared to meet this demand and has proactively invested in the development of vehicles that run on CNG, bio-diesel and hydrogen. The company also offers micro hybrid technology across its product range of UVs and pick-ups. Substantial progress has also been made in the development of a hybrid powertrain.
Eaton’s strategic alliance with M&M
Hearty congratulations to the Mahindra Group on achieving this significant milestone. They have been our major stake-holder while establishing Eaton India footprint. Thus we enjoy a very strategic relationship when it comes to offering safe, reliable and efficient power management solutions through our industry-leading drive train products. Our engagement extends right from passenger cars to heavy commercial vehicles and from domestic to export markets.
With the Mahindra Group, Eaton sees an opportunity to offer its entire spectrum of advanced products, including engine valves & valve actuations, superchargers, torque control products, commercial vehicle transmissions, and fuel emission control products.
A few of Eaton Vehicle Group engagements worth mentioning here are:
• Transmission for the HCV range of trucks
• Differential lockers for SUV & pick-up trucks
• Engine air management solutions for auto & farm segments
Eaton is indeed very proud to be associated with the Mahindra Group and wish many more successes in the days to come!
– Mr. Krishnakumar Srinivasan, President – Vehicle Group, Asia Pacific Region, Eaton
KLT’s close association with M&M
KLT started its journey with M&M way back in 1994 with the development of the tubular chassis for the first time in India. Subsequently, chassis for various models like Balero, Scorpio, MAXX, Camper and Thar with numerous variants have been developed, produced and supplied to the M&M assembly plants at Kandivali, Nasik, Haridwar and Zahirabad.
Even the incorporation of Hydroformed cross member has been for the first time introduced by KLT for Scorpio Cross member. KLT achieved one million chassis supply much before M&M achieved 5 million vehicle production and out of the same nearly 0.5 million is only for Scorpio.
Further, KLT has established the roll forming facility for Mahindra Truck (earlier Navistar) along with UHS steel development, and together produced truck side member which is unique and futuristic in commercial vehicle chassis development.
The company has always blended in-house R&D with innovation under the able leadership of Dr. Dhananjay Kumar and it is an achievement in itself that all the world class engineering / technology has been indigenously developed without a single technical collaboration / JV.
KLT is also a pioneer in >90% robotic welding for reliable & repeatable quality production and the same has been first introduced while establishing the chassis manufacturing line for Scorpio along with the in-line 100% measurement system, another innovation in automotive manufacturing technology which has been further upgraded to using laser camera for accurate and efficient GD&T.