Auto company Mahindra & Mahindra announced last week that it will be launching a premium SUV in the country by the end of FY 2010-11. M&M President, Mr Pawan Goenka, said that the company is investing Rs 700 crore in the development of the new product, which will be positioned above the Scorpio. It will be manufactured at M&M’s new plant in Chakan, Maharashtra, and will also be exported to the US. Mr Goenka added that the company is planning to launch 3-4 new vehicles from its Chakan facility, which will eventually have a production capacity of 3 lakh units.

The company will also launch an electric version of its recently introduced mini-truck, Maxximo, by October 2010. The vehicle will run 90 kilometres on a single charge of 8 hours. The Maxximo has an 850 kg payload capacity, and will compete with Tata Motors’ Ace. M&M is also planning to enter the electric two-wheeler segment.

The company is displaying its entire product range at the 2010 Delhi Auto Expo including a new limited edition version of the Scorpio. The most striking aspect of Mahindra’s pavilion at the show is the sheer variety of vehicles on display. Starting from two-wheelers to SUVs to commercial vehicles, the company covers all vehicle segments. Significant among its two-wheeler models are the Mahindra Rodeo, the Mahindra Duro, the Mahindra Flyte and a concept bike from Engines Engineering. Also on display are the SUVs Bolero and Scorpio, and the MPV Xylo. A battery-operated version of the newly launched Maxximo too has a prominent place at the show. Mahindra’s theme at the Auto Expo is ‘Technology’.