In recent months, Mahindra, the Indian SUV manufacturing giant, has been consistently selling more than 40,000 SUVs, addressing the surging demand by ramping up production. However, a significant gap between new bookings and production capacity has led to a substantial backlog of pending orders. According to Rajesh Jejurikar, the CEO of Mahindra & Mahindra’s Auto and Farm Business, the company is facing a monthly average of 51,000 bookings, resulting in a considerable backlog of 2.86 lakh units as of November 1st. The high booking rate and extended waiting periods contribute to an 8% booking cancellation rate.
Pending Orders Across Models
XUV Series
Mahindra currently grapples with a backlog of 10,000 bookings for the XUV300 sub-4-meter SUV and the XUV400 electric SUV combined.
XUV700 and Thar Lifestyle SUVs
As of November 1, 2023, the XUV700 and Thar lifestyle SUVs have a staggering 70,000 and 76,000 pending orders, respectively.
Bolero SUV
The Bolero SUV has 11,000 pending orders, showcasing the widespread popularity of Mahindra’s SUV lineup.
Scorpio Series
Mahindra’s Scorpio series, including Scorpio N and Scorpio Classic, enjoys robust demand, with a backlog exceeding 1,19,000 units.
Future Deliveries and Strategies
Rajesh Jejurikar revealed that Mahindra is actively working to streamline future deliveries, aiming to reduce waiting periods. In the second quarter of this financial year (July to September 2023), Mahindra successfully delivered 1,14,742 SUVs, marking a remarkable 50% increase compared to the same period in the previous financial year.
What’s Next for Mahindra?
Looking ahead, Mahindra has exciting plans in store for the Indian market. An updated version of the XUV300 compact SUV and a 5-door variant of the Thar lifestyle SUV are on the horizon. Additionally, Mahindra is diligently working on the next-generation Bolero, expected to debut in 2024-25. Furthermore, the company might introduce the XUV.e8 electric SUV by the end of 2024, showcasing Mahindra’s commitment to innovation and meeting evolving consumer preferences.
