“XUV 3XO EV Is An Alternate Powertrain Choice For Customers,” Nalinikanth Golagunta, CEO - Automotive Business, Mahindra

Mahindra pulled quite the surprise with the launch of the new XUV 3XO EV, bringing an electrified version of the subcompact SUV. The new Mahindra XUV 3XO EV not only takes the fight to the Tata Nexon EV and MG Windsor, but also brings a more accessible price point for customers within the Mahindra Electric family. Speaking with Acko Drive at the launch, Nalinikanth Golagunta, CEO - Automotive Business, Mahindra, said that the company waited a year to launch the XUV 3XO EV, gauging market demand. 

Customers Asked For An Electric XUV 3XO

This is Mahindra’s big move into the mainstream EV space, and the company is optimistic with the XUV 3XO EV. Golagunta explained that the model is targeting customers who prefer a small urban electric runabout in their garage. This could be the second or third car in the family, while also opening a new gateway for first-time Mahindra buyers.

“We were not fully aware of how the customers will react to the different stimuli, whether it's pricing, whether it's size, whether it's range. We need to try different things. With the Inglo, we are able to do that on the top end of the spectrum with the vehicles we put out there. But in the sub-4 and 4.2-metre range, we want to try to do different things to see what it looks like. And this we felt was the right way to look at it because a lot of 3XO aspirants were coming and saying, I would have loved to see this car in an EV format. It's the number three car in the household. This is just going to go to A, drop somebody in the school, go to this office and come back. Why don't you give an EV in the same space as well, right? No, we have not done this in the past at this level. There was a market ask, which said that I would love to see an EV in this because it's just a very small, fixed route I'm taking. I'm not changing anything what the 3XO has at this point in time. I'm just making it EV to the maximum. That's really what we're going with.”

Waited A Year To Gauge Demand

Golagunta said the automaker waited a year to gauge if there was a real demand for the XUV 3XO EV. The 3XO has been a super success for the brand with over 1.8 lakh units sold since its launch in 2024, but the automaker wanted to be sure that there was an equal demand for an electrified model. 

“We were just waiting to see if there was real demand. Instead of randomly launching it, we want to make sure," Golagunta explained. "There was a natural demand for customers coming in. And we said, okay, now we think there's a market for this. The product is well established. And it's just a powertrain choice.”

The Mahindra XUV 3XO EV not only fills the need for an entry offering in the automaker’s electric lineup, but also addresses the shortcomings of the XUV400 EV. The latter struggled to get the numbers Mahindra desired for, and was criticised for its dated appearance and tech, when compared to other offerings in the market.

“The challenge of the XUV400 in some sense was, it wasn't contemporary in terms of features that they put out there. By the time the product came in, some of the features like premium audio, panoramic sunroof, or even ADAS were really things people were expecting in a top-end vehicle. That product had already sailed at that point in time and we couldn't really start to retrofit that, he added. 

XUV 3XO EV & XUV400 EV To Co-Exist

In contrast, the XUV 3XO EV is better equipped borrowing all the features from its ICE version. This includes ADAS, 360-degree camera, touchscreen systems, connected tech, a panoramic sunroof, Dolby audio, and more. Moreover, the model carries a lower asking price, starting at ₹13.89 lakh, against the XUV400 EV’s ₹17.49 lakh (ex-showroom, before discounts) sticker price. While both models will co-exist in the automaker’s lineup., Golagunta revealed that the XUV400 EV will now be directed towards fleet buyers, whereas the 3XO will cater to private buyers.

Not A Born Electric Vehicle

Visually, the Mahindra XUV 3XO EV remains identical to the ICE model and even carries the twin peaks logo, instead of the infinity logo seen on the XEV range. The company believes the visual distinction is necessary for the customer to understand these are different products at some level. The 3XO EV is not based on the Born Electric platform, and uses the existing architecture instead. The model is built on the same line as its petrol and diesel counterparts at the Nashik manufacturing facility. 

Bookings for the XUV 3XO EV are already open, while deliveries will begin from February 23 onwards. Meanwhile, the automaker is gearing up to open order books for the Mahindra XEV 9S, its latest Born Electric offering, which shares underpinnings with the XEV 9e. The automaker is optimistic about its new launches, which covers a wider customer base in the EV space. Bookings for the XEV 9S begin on January 14, 2026.