The biggest utility vehicle producer of India, Mahindra & Mahindra, is planning to tighten its grip on to the multi-purpose vehicle market of India by developing a new MPV. This MPV is going to be based on the platform of its compact truck Mahindra Maxximo. This new vehicle is currently undergoing tests in the Mahindra Research Valley in Chennai. However, the date for the launch of this vehicle has not been revealed by the auto manufacturer. The development of an MPV on the platform of a compact truck requires many changes in different and crucial areas like transmission and power. The good news here is that Mahindra Maxximo is the most technologically sound mini truck, which is running strongly on the Indian roads today. It also has a minivan and a mini-truck trim to its credential.
Now along withthis new MPV, Mahindra & Mahindra is further looking to produce a passenger van which would be based on the very same platform. This passenger van will most probably be built soon so that it could hit the Indian roads by the end of this fiscal year. Currently the automobile manufacturing companies who are already plying in the MPV market are not leaving any stone unturned in their attempt to charm the MPV purchasing customers. Mahindra & Mahindra is amongst the current major players in the MPV segment of the Indian automobile market, with Toyota Kirloskar Motor, Tata Motors and Maruti Suzuki India following it closely. Maruti Suzuki Ertiga is the fresh entrant in this segment, which just came into the automobile market of India last week.
While the joint venture of Nissan and Ashok Leyland is going to bring its Evalia by this year end, General Motors also looking to bring out its MPV Enjoy very soon in the Indian automobile market. It seems this year is going to be of either compact cars or of the MPVs as the luxurious sedans are only for the rich and able, while these two earlier categories has huge volume of potential customers who are young and in need of a car which can accommodate the whole family.
Since the new MPV will have the platform of Maxximo, it is sure to be strong and stable like a truck, yet the transmission and power, once modified in accordance to the MPV requirement, should give a good mileage and excellent comfort. The chassis of Maxximo is built to take pressure of the cargo so it should easily distribute the weight of the passengers, which will give good manoeuvring ability to the new vehicle. Space couldn’t be a problem because this is going to be an MPV, meant for big families as well as for commuting passenger, if used commercially.
