Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) is preparing to expand its global pickup operations with the upcoming Lifestyler while developing electric trucks and its first electric bus as part of its commercial vehicle strategy.

Mahindra Lifestyler to drive global pickup expansion

Mahindra plans to expand the Lifestyler in existing overseas markets and enter new ones, including the UK, while increasing its focus on South Africa and Australia, where it has received a positive response, and Indonesia, where it already has a commercial vehicle presence.

"We will double down in core markets such as South Africa and Australia where we are strongly received. We will also bet on markets such as Chile and Tunisia where we have done well," said Nalinikanth Gollagunta, CEO, Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra.

The company is also evaluating markets where it has limited or no presence, including the UK, the world's largest right-hand-drive (RHD) SUV market after India. Mahindra executives have studied markets including Australia and the UK and visited dealerships to assess product potential and market conditions.

"We talked about the UK, it is the largest right hand-drive (RHD) SUV market in the world after India. We don't have a presence there but we'll be very deliberate in how we go there," Gollagunta said.

"The difference is we now have products which are built for the globe from day one. We have spent a lot of time in dealerships across Australia and in the UK. We are watching what is going on in these markets. Now that we have convinced ourselves that the unit economics makes sense, we think we can do well over a sustained period of time," he added.

Mahindra is also evaluating expansion in existing markets, with Indonesia cited as an example. "Then we believe there is a set of low-hanging fruit markets. We have presence there and we can stretch ourselves. A classic example is Indonesia. We are doing well there right now with the commercial vehicle. We are learning about that market and we realise this is a market we can play," Gollagunta said.

The global pickup will launch in India as the Mahindra Scorpio Lifestyler and internationally as the Lifestyler. First showcased as a concept in Cape Town, South Africa, in August 2023, it is scheduled to launch in India in April 2027 at prices expected to start below Rs. 1,979,000 (US$ 20,705), ex-showroom.

The Lifestyler will be Mahindra's first new ute in 20 years and will replace the Pik-Up, launched in 2007 and discontinued in 2025. It is expected in Australia in 2027, where it will compete with dual-cab pickups such as the Toyota HiLux and Mitsubishi Triton, as well as lower-priced Chinese competitors.

Mahindra has not confirmed its dimensions, engine options, performance, towing capacity, payload or off-road equipment. The pickup uses Mahindra's "next-generation body-on-frame architecture" and shares its ladder-frame chassis with the Scorpio four-wheel-drive SUV. Its styling is based on the Scorpio, with bespoke bodywork, apparent shared front doors, a different front fascia, a larger grille and slimmer headlights. At the rear, Kia Tasman-like tail-lights frame Mahindra lettering on the tailgate.

Mahindra has shown three versions: the high-grade Valley Edition; the teal-blue Reef Edition with a nudge bar, roof racks, sailplane and snorkel; and the tan-coloured Trail Edition with a nudge bar, sailplane, snorkel, roof platform and side bars.

The interior features a large portrait-oriented infotainment touchscreen between the air vents, air-conditioning controls combining touchscreen functions with physical buttons and dials, a conventional automatic gear selector, an electronic parking brake and an expected rotary four-wheel-drive mode selector. Other features include a reportedly 10.25-inch digital instrument display, dual gloveboxes, dual-zone climate control and satellite navigation.

The Australian-market Lifestyler could use a version of the Scorpio's 2.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine with a six-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive. In the Scorpio, the engine produces 129 kW and 400 Nm, while Mahindra has previously indicated an output of up to 450 Nm, below the 470 Nm-500 Nm outputs of several competitors. A 3,500kg braked towing capacity has also been suggested but remains unconfirmed.

The Scorpio is also available in India with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, although this engine is unlikely to be offered in Australia if it is used in the Lifestyler. There is currently no indication of a hybrid or electric version. The pickup is expected to use independent coil-sprung front suspension and a live-axle, leaf-sprung rear suspension.

Mahindra said the pickup has been engineered for the "safety demanded by customers around the world". This is relevant to Australia, where the Scorpio SUV received a zero-star ANCAP rating in 2023. The Scorpio has since gained safety features that were absent during testing, while autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and lane-keep assist are now mandatory for new vehicles sold in Australia. Further Lifestyler details are expected closer to its Australian launch.

Gollagunta said Mahindra sees potential for lifestyle pickups in India as consumers gain more choices. "We are the third largest automotive market in the world. We believe the market is evolving, maturing and becoming a lot more sophisticated. The problem we see is that there are not enough of these choices and as these choices come, people will opt for these lifestyle vehicles," he said.

India remains a small market for pickup trucks and lifestyle SUVs, with Toyota offering the Hilux and Isuzu established in the segment with the D-Max V-Cross.

Mahindra expands electric vehicle development

Alongside the Lifestyler, Mahindra is developing electric trucks and its first electric bus as it extends its EV strategy into larger commercial vehicles. Vinod Sahay, President - Trucks & Buses, Executive Chairman - SML Mahindra and Member of the Group Executive Board, Mahindra Group, said the electric truck programme remains at an early stage and is not an immediate priority because conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) commercial vehicles continue to offer opportunities.

"We are working on our first electric bus product. Parallely we have started the project of initial work to make some electric trucks also available," Sahay said during a media roundtable.

Mahindra has not provided an electric truck launch timeline. Sahay said the company intends to have the technology ready and introduce products according to market development. SML Mahindra's first electric bus, already under development in April, is scheduled for launch in FY27.

Mahindra Last Mile Mobility already operates in electric commercial vehicles at the lighter end of the market, having launched the ZEO electric four-wheeler small commercial vehicle for urban logistics in October 2024 and also selling electric three-wheelers. The new truck and bus programmes will extend its EV commercial vehicle strategy into heavier vehicles.

The comments came as Mahindra launched the BLAZO i-TRK on August 14th, a heavy commercial vehicle powered by a 324 PS diesel engine, reflecting the company's continued focus on the operating economics of ICE trucks alongside electric alternatives.

Electric commercial vehicle market develops at different rates

India's commercial vehicle electrification is progressing at different rates across segments, with three-wheelers leading adoption, followed by lighter goods vehicles and buses, while medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks remain a small market.

Electric commercial vehicle retail sales, excluding the separately classified three-wheeler category, increased 120% in FY26 compared with FY25, according to the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations. Electric light commercial vehicles increased 31.2% in Q1 FY27 from the preceding quarter, while e-bus sales increased 37% in FY26, according to Vahan data. Medium- and heavy-duty electric truck sales remained at only a few hundred units during the year.

The difference is partly related to operating patterns: buses generally follow fixed routes and return to depots where charging can be planned, whereas heavy trucks travel longer distances and carry revenue-generating payloads, making battery weight, charging time and infrastructure more significant considerations.

The government is addressing the gap through incentives. The Ministry of Heavy Industries' PM E-Drive portal provides Rs. 5 billion for up to 5,643 electric trucks, while Rs. 43.9 billion has been earmarked for up to 14,028 electric buses. Electric truck incentives cover vehicles weighing between 3.5 tonnes and 55 tonnes.

Mahindra consolidates truck and bus operations

Mahindra's electric commercial vehicle development coincides with the consolidation of its conventional truck and bus operations. The SML Mahindra board approved the acquisition of Mahindra Truck and Bus Division from M&M through a slump sale in July. Expected to be completed during FY27, the transaction will bring Mahindra's light, intermediate and heavy trucks and buses under a unified commercial vehicle platform.

The combined Mahindra Trucks & Buses and SML business vehicle sales in Q1 FY27 increased by 11% year on year. Passenger vehicle volumes, which largely comprise buses, increased 20%, while cargo volumes declined 1%, according to Mahindra.

Mahindra acquired a controlling stake in SML in August 2025 as part of its commercial vehicle expansion strategy. The company said at the time that the acquisition would take its share of the above-3.5-tonne commercial vehicle market to around 6%, with targets of 10-12% by FY31 and more than 20% by FY36.

Mahindra expands EV offerings beyond commercial vehicles

Mahindra has introduced Battery as a Service (BaaS) as part of its electric passenger vehicle strategy. The new BE 6 Sporteq series is priced at Rs. 1,145,000 with BaaS, with battery usage charged at Rs. 3.75 per kilometre. Two additional Sporteq versions have also been introduced: the top-of-the-range Launch Edition and the performance-focused Formula E Freedom Edition.

Velusamy R, President, Automotive Business of M&M and Managing Director, Mahindra Electric Automobile, said the company's electric mobility strategy is expanding beyond range and acceleration.

"Electric mobility is entering a new phase. Customers no longer judge an EV simply by its range or acceleration. They expect it to become more intelligent, more personal and more capable throughout its lifetime. Sporteq reflects that shift," he said.

The Lifestyler, electric truck and bus programmes, consolidation of the commercial vehicle business and expansion of the passenger EV portfolio form part of Mahindra's strategy for its domestic and international automotive operations and its transition across different stages of vehicle electrification.