South Korean automaker SsangYong Motor Company, under Mahindra & Mahindra group, has teased its new all-electric subcompact crossover, E100 a.k.a. Tivoli EV. SsangYong is already busy developing the bigger Korando e-Motion electric compact crossover; the ICE version of which was once expected to be Mahindra’s XUV500 replacement.
Earlier this year, Mahindra & Mahindra had shared that it is looking for new investors to handle its Korean subsidiary. It was in 2010 that Mahindra bought a 75 per cent stake in SsangYong. Under it, we have received two Mahindra products: Alturas G4 mid-size SUV (badge-engineered Rexton G4) and XUV300 subcompact crossover (reengineered Tivoli).
The Mahindra XUV300 is a sub-four-metre crossover (or “compact SUV” in Indian buyers’ terms) while its original left-hand-drive Tivoli base crosses four metres in length. It remains uncertain whether the new SsangYong E100 would be sized the same as its upcoming Indian sibling, Mahindra eXUV300 or XUV300 Electric. Teaser images suggest that it is slightly longer despite sharing the same MESMA 350 platform, developed by Mahindra Electric completely in-house. ‘MESMA’ expands to ‘Mahindra Electric Scalable and Modular Architecture’.
Over the months, we have shared multiple spy shots of Mahindra’s ‘Tata Nexon EV rival’. The eXUV300 made its debut as a concept at Auto Expo 2020 (held in early February) with hints of significant styling differences. At least from the teasers, the Tivoli EV looks quite different.
MESMA 350 incorporates a 350V powertrain that supports motor ratings in the range of 60kW to 280kW alongside battery capacities up to 80kWh. Dual motor configurations (all-wheel-drive) are also possible.
According to Mahesh Babu, CEO of Mahindra Electric, the eXUV300 promises a range of more than 370km on a full charge. This translates to a real-life range of at least 320km.
In comparison, the Tata Nexon EV returns an ARAI-claimed range of 312km (real-life figures would be in the 200s) with its 30.2kWh battery pack. It is powered by a 95kW (127bhp) motor producing 245Nm of peak torque. The Mahindra eXUV300, as well as SsangYong E100, would most likely pack more output.
At the moment, the Indian automotive market’s electric four-wheeler segment is at a budding stage with limited options. In fact, there are only three EVs from mainstream brands: Hyundai Kona, MG ZS EV and of course, Tata Nexon EV. Meanwhile, the Indian two-wheeler scenario is witnessing increased demand for e-scooters.