Tesla will raise the bar for high-end EVs

Velusamy R is president, automotive technology and product development, at Mahindra and Mahindra. His focus is electric mobility in particular. The man who set up Mahindra Research Valley (on Chennai's outskirts), has turned it into an innovation hub that drives M&M's product development. He now spearheads the EV portfolio, the XUV and BE (born electric) brands. In a conversation with TOI, he spoke about EVs, Tamil Nadu, and the future. Excerpts:MRV is the crucible that birthed M&M's born electric range. When you first started working on this project, what was TN's EV ecosystem like?When we embarked on the development of the electric origin SUV at MRV in 2021, the EV ecosystem in TN was in a nascent stage. It was a moment of curiosity rather than capability. Our supplier partners were still building their EV-specific competencies, academia hadn't fully pivoted toward EV-focused research, and policy frameworks were in the process of evolving. Despite challenges, we recognized untapped potential. At MRV, we had a rich pool of engineers, research scholars, and technocrats. What we needed was to equip them with skills required for cutting-edge EV tech. To bridge this gap, we collaborated with experts in academia and consultants from Europe, the US, Korea, the UK, and across the globe to develop specialized knowledge and expertise. Over time, MRV transformed into a nucleus of innovation, bringing together engineering talent, fostering component development, and cultivating a culture of innovation. This effort laid the foundation for developing the electric origin SUVs.How has the local EV ecosystem evolved?Today, we see tier-1 and tier-2 suppliers investing in EV-specific tech. The govt has backed this with targeted EV policies & TN is becoming a leading EV hub with major global and domestic automotive players investing here. The state is actively expanding its EV charging infrastructure to accelerate EV adoption. The state also continues to offer 100% road tax exemption and capital subsidies, making it a more attractive destination for EVs in India. Cities such as Coimbatore, where our Mahindra Software Defined Vehicle centre is located, are emerging as strong hubs for software development. We have leveraged the local tech base to develop electrical architecture from the ground up and a software-defined vehicle platform for our electric-origin SUVs. With Tesla finally debuting in India, will the battle for high-end luxury EVs heat up? How will it impact the manufacturing and component sourcing ecosystem?The arrival of Tesla will undoubtedly raise the bar, especially in the premium EV segment. But we see this as an opportunity. At Mahindra, competition pushes us to innovate. Chairman Anand Mahindra summed it up perfectly when he welcomed Tesla with a message, "Competition drives innovation. Looking forward (sic) to seeing you at the charging station." While initial local impact on manufacturing may be limited, it sends the right signals encouraging suppliers to scale up and align with global benchmarks.TN govt is looking to expand its EV footprint to include battery scrappage and recycling as well as raw material. Is that the right way? Are other EV hubs in India also doing that?Tamil Nadu's push into battery recycling and scrappage infrastructure shows foresight. The state is looking at EVs not just from a product development and manufacturing lens, but from a full life-cycle perspective. Other states are also taking early steps under the Centre's guidelines, which is encouraging.What are the most critical requirements that a state must have to become an EV product development hub? What more can Tamil Nadu do in this respect?We need strong engineering talent, a robust base in electronics manufacturing and software suppliers, battery & cell development capability, coupled with R&D support. Tamil Nadu already has a solid foundation both in academia as well as the supplier ecosystem.