Mahindra Opens ₹300 Crore Labs in Tamil Nadu, Expand Safety and EV Battery Testing

Mahindra has unveiled two state-of-the-art research and testing facilities, the Passive Safety Lab (PSL) and Battery & Cell Research Lab, at Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu. With an investment of over ₹300 crores, these facilities represent Mahindra's commitment to innovation in automotive safety and sustainable technology, placing Tamil Nadu at the forefront of global automotive research. The inauguration ceremony, attended by Dr T.R.B. Rajaa, Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion & Commerce for the Tamil Nadu government, and senior Mahindra executives, underscores the state’s rising status as a prominent R&D hub.

Covering 25,000 square meters, Mahindra’s Passive Safety Lab is one of the largest OEM-owned safety testing facilities worldwide. Designed by IDIADA, a Spanish institute specialising in applied automotive research, PSL incorporates cutting-edge equipment and crash test capabilities that adhere to global automotive safety standards, including the Bharat New Car Assessment Program (BNCAP), and Australian and European New Car Assessment Programs (A/ENCAP).

Key features of the PSL facility include:

- Crash Areas and High-Speed Equipment: The facility contains two crash zones, one with a movable 100-ton block and an octagonal filming pit, and another with a fixed block, supporting test track lengths of up to 306 meters. Vehicles weighing up to four tons can be tested at speeds up to 120 kmph.

- Comprehensive Impact Testing: PSL enables a range of tests, including Offset Deformable Barrier, Side Movable Deformable Barrier, Pole Impact, Rear Impact, and advanced Euro NCAP side and frontal impact tests.

- Sophisticated Imaging and Data Systems: High-speed cameras capture crash events at up to 1,000 frames per second, while a data acquisition system can record up to 400 channels, enabling a detailed analysis of vehicle performance and safety.

- Specialised EV Testing: The PSL features an exclusively electric vehicle crash-testing zone, complete with a fixed block and specialised observation garages.

- Dummy Variety and Certification: The lab houses a diverse range of crash-test dummies, including 50th percentile, EuroSID, and Q-series child dummies, alongside advanced THOR and WorldSID models. In-house dummy certification enhances test consistency and accuracy.

Plans include upgrades for angular car-to-car and rollover tests, further broadening the facility’s testing scope. 

Adjacent to PSL, the 1,374-square-meter Battery & Cell Research Lab positions Mahindra at the forefront of battery technology research. This facility is designed to foster advancements in energy efficiency, durability, and performance for electric vehicle (EV) batteries, critical for India’s growing transition to clean mobility.