The two coupe-style SUVs launched in India in March, with an Australian arrival now confirmed by Mahindra. However, timing has still not been locked in.
Two new electric SUVs from Mahindra will be coming to Australia in the near future, the Indian car maker has confirmed.
Speaking to Drive at the launch of its petrol-powered XUV 3XO city SUV last week, the brand’s Head of International Operations, Sachin Arolkar, said work was already underway to bring the pair of electric coupe SUVs here.
“It’s already a work in progress, it’s in the pipeline, and given the fact that we launched in India in March, I don’t expect it to be too far in the future,” Arolkar told Drive.
Revealed in Mahindra’s home market of India in November 2024, the two SUVs are the first of five EVs to come from the car maker under its Electric Origin sub-brand.
MORE: Mahindra reveals two electric SUVs, both likely for Australia
The Mahindra BE 6e and the Mahindra XEV 9e coupe SUVs are being built in a new dedicated electric car plant in Chakan, India, on its new INGLO electric architecture in collaboration with Volkswagen.
The BE 6e is a five-door, five-seat SUV with coupe styling, which is longer than a Mazda CX-3 but slightly shorter than a Toyota RAV4.
It uses a 172kW single electric motor teamed with a lithium-ion phosphate 59kWh battery pack rated to offer more than 500km of WLTP driving range.
Alternatively, there is a more potent 210kW/380Nm motor paired with a larger 79kWh battery pack for a 533km WLTP driving range rating.
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The XEV 9e is also a five-seat five-door with a coupe-like sloping roof, similar in size to the new 250 Series Toyota Prado, but only utilises the more powerful motor and bigger battery setup, offering a 550km WLTP driving range rating despite being larger than the BE 6e.
While the models can be had in front, rear- and all-wheel drive, the figures provided appear to be for rear-wheel drive versions.
According to Arolkar, the brand also plans to bring other upcoming EVs to Australia as it seeks a line-up comprised of 20 to 30 per cent electric vehicles by 2027.
MORE: 2026 Mahindra Scorpio safety upgrades detailed ahead of Australian launch this year
“Electric is our next priority,” he said, “In March, we started launching our new range of electric vehicles in India, and those are the products that we’ll look at bringing into Australia in the near future.
“Hybrid continues to be a work in progress at this point in time, whether it’s from a study perspective, development perspective, so on and so forth.”
Based on the executive’s comments, consumers shouldn’t expect hybrid models from Mahindra any time soon, as it puts most of its eggs in the fully-electric basket.
Indeed, in a scathing comment aimed squarely at its Chinese budget rival Chery, referring to its recently-launched hybrid Tiggo 4 small SUV, Arolkar suggested a hybrid powertrain for the sake of it isn’t what buyers want.
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“Very recently, one of our competitors launched a vehicle that is a hybrid in this segment at $29,990 drive-away [Chery Tiggo 4 hybrid], and it’s only 5.5L/100km on that same combined cycle.
“So, are you really going to pay $7000 more for 1L/100km less just to have the hybrid badge is probably my argument.”
With fines now being imposed as of July 1 for car makers selling vehicles in Australia that emit more CO2 than their prescribed limits under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), Mahindra has had to make some tough decisions on what powertrains it brings to market to offset its thirstier models, such as the Scorpio off-roader and upcoming Pik-Up ute replacement.
MORE: Mahindra Scorpio 4WD to go on hiatus in Australia as key safety upgrade missing in action
The XUV 3XO light SUV just launched here is available in three configurations overseas – the 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol we get making 82kW/200Nm, the same engine but more powerful making 96kW/230Nm, and a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel.
The CO2 target for passenger vehicles – before it is adjusted for a car’s mass – is 140g of CO2 per km, and the 3XO’s figure is 136.55g/km.
A spokesperson said the hotter petrol engine was ruled out because of NVES, however the diesel was never an option from the get-go because the fuel type is not popular with buyers in this segment.
“Diesel is a big thing in India, but not overseas in this segment. So to that extent, the diesel was not a part of our consideration set,” added Arolkar.
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“On this product right now, this petrol is our best bet, and that’s what we have decided to work on…but our top priority for Australia is the full electric vehicles.”
It remains to be seen what form other vehicles planned for our market might take to meet emissions standards, such as the next-gen Mahindra Global Pik-Up ute due in 2026, or recently confirmed Suzuki Jimny-sized rival based on the Thar off-road SUV.
Arolkar confirmed recent reports that the brand is planning to launch an off-roader in Australia, but it will not be the same version of the Thar currently on sale in India.
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