Mahindra sticking with petrol, diesel power even as it readies electric cars

Car brands are rushing to put end dates on internal combustion power, with some vowing to end sales of petrol-powered vehicles as soon as 2030. Mahindra isn’t one of them.

The Indian carmaker has confirmed it will secure internal combustion vehicle supply into the foreseeable future, despite having plans to roll out a wide range of electric vehicles (EVs).

Speaking to media at Mahindra Research Valley in India, Joydeep Moitra, the head of Mahindra’s international automotive division, confirmed that while the company is focussing on upcoming EVs, internal combustion is still very much on the radar for the foreseeable future.

“I think the balance will always be there. I see Australian consumers with so many lifestyle requirements, you know boats and and horse carriages, and so on,” he said.

“So I think there has to be a balance in terms of the product mix that we offer into Australia. Clearly ICE [internal combustion engine] and electric both have to be there as part of a strategy.”

When asked whether that would mean Australia will always have a supply of internal combustion engines into the future, Mr Moitra responded with “yes, absolutely.”

Electric penetration in India is incredibly small at the moment. India’s new car market is just under 4 million new vehicles per year but with India’s middle class expanding rapidly, sales of new cars are expected to almost double by 2029.

EV penetration at the moment sits at around 2 per cent and just like Australia is increasing year-on-year.

India’s resistance to Chinese brands has meant the reliance on EV production has been left to Indian car brands with prices still out of reach for the masses.

Mahindra’s new petrol and diesel engines meet India’s latest emission controls and are expected to survive within Mahindra vehicles for years to come to service the local market.

This will carry over to the brand’s Australian line-up – the new global pickup, for example, will come with a diesel engine.