Indian automaker Mahindra & Mahindra has introduced a new battery assembly facility for its born-electric vehicles in Chakan.

The assembly facility is located in Mahindra’s manufacturing plant at Chakan, which is spread over 2.83 km. 

Mahindra has allocated ₹4,500 crore out of the total ₹16,000 crore planned in the F22 to F27 investment cycle, including manufacturing capacity, power train development, and two product top hats, including software and technology.

The automaker launched its born-electric vehicles BE 6 and XEV 9e, which will be available at ₹26.9 lakhs and ₹30.50 lakhs, respectively. In phase 1, 5,000 vehicle units or BE6 and XEV 9e will be manufactured per month. 

The battery assembly facility in Chakan has 500 robots and fully automated transfer systems in the body shop. It is monitored via an IoT-based “Nerve Center” for real-time process insights and end-to-end traceability.

“This fully automated plant integrates world-class manufacturing processes developed and implemented indigenously to produce, store and transfer high-performance, long-lasting batteries using industry 4.0 tech. The EV facility targets a 25 per cent gender diversity ratio,” the company said in a statement. 

The company will undertake phased test drives across the country starting on January 14, while deliveries for the 79kWh battery pack-born electric vehicles will begin in March. 

Mahindra & Mahindra has also introduced a three-for-me program for the born-electric vehicle financing. The EMI will begin from ₹39,224 for different battery packs of BE6 and ₹45,450 for XEV 9e.