The MPV segment in our domestic market has less number of offerings when compared to other segments such as small car and sedan. It means that the very segment is yet to be fully exploited, which is the reason why more brands are stepping into it. Mahindra and Mahindra, which already has a popular MPV Mahindra Xylo, is working on another product, Mahindra Compact MPV which will be smaller and priced lower than the Mahindra Xylo and upcoming Mahindra Xylo Mini as well.
So far, the most popular car of the MPV segment has been the Toyota Innova followed by Chevrolet Tavera and Mahindra Xylo and recently Maruti Suzuki has launched it strong contender in the form of Maruti Ertiga, which could be a hit considering the fact that it is cheaper. The story doesn’t end here. Chevrolet (General Motors) is also testing a new MPV which could be the Chevrolet Enjoy, that was showcased at the 2012 Auto Expo.
Nissan is also working on Nissan Evalia. So in short, there are a number of MPVs lined-up for their respective launches and a few months from now, the competition will see a sharp rise.
image – Mahindra Maxximo Minivan
Interestingly, as per a report published by DNA, Mahindra & Mahindra is also developing an all-new Mahindra Compact MPV based on the Mahindra Maxximo platform. Presently the company offers two products based on the Maxximo platform, Maxximo minivan and a Maxximo pickup truck. And the new vehicle, which is under testing at company’s Chennai facility, will be the third one based on Maxximo. The Maxximo platform was built specifically for commercial vehiclesbut now that the manufacturer is develop a passenger vehicle on it, we are sure a number of serious changes will be brought.
Mahindra never hurries when it comes to launching a particular vehicle and takes almost a year of testing results under consideration, before officially introducing the product. So we do not expect the launch of the new model anytime soon but we can expect a value for money product. It will be interesting to see what kind of interior treatment is given to the Mahindra Compact MPV as it would not be competing in the Mahindra Xylo or Xylo Mini segment, rather it will be compact MPV which will compete more with the like of Maruti EECO van. We have seen most of the M&M vehicles priced very aggressively in the segment, and since the Maxximo platform is already smaller than 4 meters, it is expected that the MPV will be placed in the small car bracket with a small displacement engine to make a high value for money buy in the MPV segment. We will keep you posted on Mahindra Compact MPV, stay tuned to us by signing up for our free email newsletter for more updates and like our official Facebook Page.
Source – DNAIndia
