Mahindra And Ford Will Jointly Develop Electric Cars, SUVs For India

India’s largest sports utility vehicle maker Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. will partner with the Indian unit of Ford Motor Company to develop smaller SUVs, electric cars and other in-vehicle technologies.

M&M and Ford signed five memorandums of understanding to collaborate on product development of compact sports utility vehicles, battery-powered vehicles and connected car solutions in India and other emerging markets, according to a stock exchange filing. The non-binding MoUs are aimed to further strengthen the strategic alliance in India between the two automakers, the filing added.

The two will use M&M’s existing platform to build a mid-size SUV which will be sold independently by both companies as separate brands. The automakers also agreed to evaluate co-developing an electric vehicle and sharing powertrain portfolios. This will involve M&M supplying their powertrains – the main component of a car that transfers power from an engine to the wheel – to Ford's product range.

The teams will collaborate for at least three years.

This is an extension of a strategic alliance between the two that was announced in September 2017. The automakers had agreed to co-operate on mobility programs, connected vehicle projects, product development, distribution in India, improving Ford's reach within the country and Mahindra's reach in global markets.