Mahindra & Mahindra to launch new compact SUV this September

New Delhi: Mahindra & Mahindra will launch its new compact SUV named TUV300 on September 10 at Chakan plant in Maharashtra. The company is enhancing the product portfolio with the new vehicle as it looks to strengthen its position as a leading manufacturer of utility vehicles in India. "We will be launching our new compact SUV named TUV300 at Chakan plant, where we also produce other products like the XUV500," said Pravin Shah, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) President & Chief Executive, (Automotive).

He, however, did not share details of the new product. A compact sub-four metre SUV, Mahindra & Mahindra is positioning the TUV300 as a "a true blue SUV" and is expected to compete with the likes of Toyota Etios Cross, Hyundai 120 Active and Fiat Avventura which are priced at a range of Rs 6.23 lakh and Rs 8.89 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The company is targeting to address needs of those customers who are looking for a pure SUV in the compact segment, which at present is dominated by crossover models.

Mahindra & Mahindra had introduced a compact SUV Quanto in 2012 but it did not meet with the success that other models from the company such as the XUV500 and Scorpio had. The design of the Mahindra TUV300 has been inspired by a battle tank with raised shoulders, high front nose, flat roof, high ground clearance and straight bonnet, the company said. The TUV300 is an all-new SUV platform. It has been designed and developed in-house by the Mahindra design team. The research and development of Mahindra TUV300 has been carried out at the Mahindra Research Valley in Chennai, the company said.

The vehicle will be manufactured at the company's manufacturing facility at Chakan, where it also produces trucks and other vehicles of Maxximo platform.