Mahindra wants to bring its electric cars to South Africa

Mahindra has confirmed to TopAuto that it is looking to introduce its electric vehicles (EVs) in South Africa.

We recently sat down with Mahindra South Africa’s CEO, Rajesh Gupta, to learn more about the company’s local operations and what it has in store for our market.

Gupta explained that the carmaker has big plans for South Africa, including the launch of the new Global Pik Up and upgrades to its bakkie plant in KwaZulu-Natal.

The CEO also revealed that the brand has already begun preparations to bring its EVs to South Africa.

So far, this includes two models – the XEV 9e and the BE 6 – which are currently undergoing market and product feasibility.

What to expect

The XEV 9e and BE 6 are electric crossover coupes that were first unveiled back in late 2024.

The BE is the smaller of the two vehicles, though they share a platform and thus end with the same wheelbase.

The following table shows a full breakdown of their dimensions:

In addition to sharing Mahindra’s “INGLO” electric SUV platform, the two crossovers have the same powertrain.

The base models are fitted with a single rear-mounted electric motor that generates 170kW. There’s also a more powerful version that produces 210kW.

In both cases, they have a maximum torque output of 380Nm.

Assuming you get the top-spec version, the BE 6 can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in a swift 6.7 seconds.

The slightly larger XEV 9e achieves a near-identical sprint time of 6.8 seconds.

Battery sizes range from 59kWh up to 79kWh, the latter of which affords a driving range of up to 683km on the Modified Indian Driving Cycle (MIDC).

Charging the battery from 20% to 80% can be done in under 20 minutes when using a 175kW DC fast charger.

As for the rest of the package, the two Mahindra crossovers will likely be positioned as premium offerings in South Africa if their Indian spec sheets are anything to go by.

The XEV 9e interior features a “cinemascope,” a massive 110.08cm screen spanning the width of the dashboard.

In contrast, the BE 6 has a “Race-Ready Digital Cockpit” with two large screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment systems, along with a centre console unit that is moulded around the driver’s seat.

Other highlights on the EVs include an augmented reality heads-up display (HUD), a 16-speaker Harman Kardon stereo, automatic climate control, and ambient lighting with preset themes.

Both cars also have Level 2+ Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot detection, lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and 12 parking sensors.

They also have a driver and occupant fatigue monitoring system, which doubles as a selfie camera for taking in-cabin video calls.

TopAuto is currently waiting on confirmation from Mahindra regarding a possible launch window for both of these vehicles.

We also noticed that Mahindra has an electric version of the XUV 3XO crossover listed on its global website.

The standard 3XO has quickly established itself as one of the best-selling entry-level cars in South Africa, so the electric model would presumably have what it takes to compete alongside other affordable EVs like the Geely E2 and BYD Dolphin Surf.

We asked Mahindra whether the electric 3XO is on the cards for South Africa and are currently awaiting feedback.

Mahindra BE 6

Mahindra XEV 9e