Date:14/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/14/stories/2009011456341500.htm

Business

Mahindra launches Xylo

Ramnath Subbu

— PHOTO: PAUL NORONHA

CHANGING PERCEPTION: Anand Mahindra, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Mahindra Group, unveiling Xylo multi-purpose vehicle at the Nashik plant on Tuesday.

NASHIK: Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) on Tuesday unveiled the much awaited Mahindra Xylo at its plant here.

The multi-purpose vehicle, priced at Rs. 6.25 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) for its base model E2, will be available in eight shades and a total of four variants (E2, E4, E6 and E8) with the top-end E8 available at Rs. 7.70 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) against Toyota Innova, priced at Rs. 9.29 lakh. Xylo will be available at the company’s dealership network in 57 places.

Addressing the media, Mahindra Group Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Anand Mahindra said, “Xylo is all set to change the perception that sedans have long been considered the ultimate in high-end mobility.”

Pawan Goenka, President, Automotive Sector, M&M, said, “Xylo is completely engineered around the customer. It offers class-defining lavish space all around such that even a six-foot tall person can stretch in comfort in the third row seat.”

The Nashik plant commenced Xylo production with a capacity of 25,000 units annually which could be ramped up as per requirement.

M&M has invested Rs. 550 crore for the development of the Xylo platform belonging to the `Ingenio’, which is incidentally the same amount it had incurred on the development of the Scorpio.

Xylo has been designed for all markets globally except the U.S.

It will launch Xylo in South Africa before the end of the year and then tackle the left-hand drive markets.

P. Narasimhan reports from Chennai

Showroom price in Chennai

Simultaneously launching the vehicle in Chennai, Arun Malhotra, Senior Vice-President, Sales and Customer Care, Automotive Sector, M&M, said Xylo, boasted an array of unique features that included flat bed front seats (just like in the business class of an airline), digital drive assist system, foldable flight trays, surround cool dual ACs and captain seats.

The price (ex-showroom Chennai) of E2 is Rs. 6.26 lakh, E4 Rs. 6.71 lakh, E6 Rs. 7.34 lakh and E8 Rs. 7.71 lakh.

Mr. Malhotra said the vehicle would be launched in Bangalore, New Delhi, Hyderabad and other cities in the next three months.