The two leading Indian carmakers, Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra have planned several new SUVs slated to arrive over the next two years. Meanwhile, Tata is gearing up to launch its first electric SUV and new flagship EV, the Safari EV, in January 2027. However, the company is yet to announce its launch date and details. Mahindra’s next big 7-seater SUV launch could be the strong hybrid version of the XUV 7XO, codenamed W613.
Tata Safari EV
Built on Tata’s Acti.ev+ platform, the Safari EV is expected to share its battery and motor configurations with the Harrier EV. The latter is available with 65kWh and 75kWh battery pack options, with a single rear motor (RWD) as standard. The higher trims are exclusively offered with a dual-motor AWD setup. According to media reports, the Tata Safari EV could also be offered with a larger 80kWh battery pack.
The is expected to offer a driving range of up to 600km on a single charger. Similar to the Harrier EV, it could support up to 100kW DC fast charging. The EV might offer terrain modes – Normal, Snow/Grass, Mud/ruts, Sand, Rock Crawl and Custom – and a multi-link rear suspension with frequency dependent dampers.
Minor EV-specific changes are expected including a closed-off grille, revised bumpers, aero-optimized alloy wheels and EV-specific badging. Dimensionally, the Safari EV is likely to remain unchanged. The overall cabin layout and features are expected to be carried over from its ICE counterpart. However, the EV could benefit from Tata’s TiDAL (Tata Intelligent Digital Architecture Layer) E&E architecture.
Mahindra XUV 7XO Hybrid
According to reports, Mahindra is working on , codenamed W613 and W623, with the latter expected to be a coupe-SUV. The carmaker is exploring multiple hybrid powertrains including range-extender technology for its INGLO platform-based SUVs. The Mahindra XEV 9e and XUV 7XO could be among the brand’s first hybrid offerings in India.
Based on Mahindra’s W601 monocoque platform, the XUV 7XO is expected to feature a strong hybrid technology. This setup will allow the SUV to run on electric power for short distances, while the the combustion engine will drive the wheels when required.
The overall design and interior layout of the Mahindra XUV 7XO hybrid are expected to remain identical to its ICE counterpart. However, it might feature ‘Hybrid’ badging on the exterior as well as inside the cabin.