Mahindra teases Thar.e to play catch up with Tata Motors

Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) has teased an electric version of its popular SUV, the Thar, in a bid to play catch up with India’s electric vehicle (EV) leader Tata Motors.

The Thar.e, as M&M christens it, will debut on India’s Independence Day (August 15) in Cape Town, South Africa, at an event dubbed the ‘Futurescape’.

The Thar.e may take time to hit the road.

During this event, the Indian automotive giant will also unveil a global EV tractor platform as well as a truck concept.
 
 
No details on Thar.e yet
 
Mahindra has chosen to remain silent on details about the Thar.e and may either base it on its new Skateboard platform or repurpose the current Thar so that batteries and electric motors can be fitted into the internal combustion engine (ICE) model.
 
Currently, M&M has an electric vehicle platform INGLO from where the auto company plans to roll out its EVs.
 
 
Thar.e | Dual motor set up needed
 
Since the Thar ICE version is an off-roader and is offered with four-wheel drive, Mahindra would do well to equip the electric Thar with a dual-motor set up.
 
Here, one of the motors is placed on the front axle and the other on the rear axle.
 
This would imply that the front and rear wheels would each have a motor to modulate the torque and traction individually during off-roading.
 

Thar.e similar to the ICE model
 
The Thar.e teaser gives us a cursory look of the rear tail lamps, which appear similar to the ICE model. It looks like a square unit with another smaller square inside.
 
It is highly likely that the current design theme will be retained in the electric version of the Thar also.
 
 
Thar.e must have unique features
 
However, Mahindra needs to bring at least some changes so that the electric version of the Thar can be unique in some ways and distinguish itself from the ICE model. We are sure Mahindra is working on this.
 
 
Thar electric production may take time
 
But even though we may be seeing the electric concept of the Thar, actual production may be a few years away.
 
This is, however, a challenge for Mahindra on how fast it can get the Thar.e so that it can be battle ready for taking on Tata Motors and Hyundai in India’s electric vehicle space.
 
 
Mahindra pick-up truck concept
 
On the concept front, Mahindra will also put on display a pick-up truck concept that is likely to be based on the Scorpio N platform, which will also be utilized for the to-be-released Thar five-door version.
 
Even in the case of the pick-up truck, the company is yet to give an inkling as to when it will be road ready.
 
READ ALSO | With XUV400, XUV700 launch plans, Mahindra readies to take on Tata 

E-Vroooom’s views
 
With the teaser of Thar.e out and the electric version on way to being showcased in Cape Town, Mahindra will have to differentiate its EV from the ICE version and see that it hits the road at the earliest (within a year of display would be ideal), so that it gets ammo to play catch up with the likes of Tata Motors and Hyundai.