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Time of India
an hour ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
How Mahindra Auto is scaling AI from factory floor to customer experience
At Mahindra Auto , AI is not a side project, it's part of the company's digital spine. From smart factories and AI copilots to software-defined vehicles and predictive maintenance , the automaker is putting artificial intelligence to work across its value chain. 'On the shop floor, we're using AI-powered systems for predictive maintenance, quality inspection, and real-time production analytics,' Rucha Nanavati, Chief Digital Transformation Officer, Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd tells ET Enterprise AI. 'In R&D, AI accelerates our design and development process.' On the customer front, AI enables hyper-personalised experiences through intelligent product configuration, data-driven marketing, and post-sale engagement. AI also up at the service centre, helping improve diagnostics and accelerate repair cycles. From pilots to production One initiative that's gone from pilot to production involves generative AI-powered maintenance assistants. These tools help shop floor executives with faster root cause analysis (RCA) for machine breakdowns. 'GEN AI powered assistants are also enabling our service executives for more accurate diagnostics based on previous repair reports,' Nanavati shares. Other AI initiatives include digital twins and ML models for productivity, safety, and cost-efficiency. A standout customer-facing use case is Vehicle GPT that's embedded in the customer app which allows users to access relevant vehicle information through natural, conversational queries. AI also plays a critical role in manufacturing continuity and supply chain resilience. 'We've adopted AI-driven analytics and agentic systems to drive real-time decision-making,' Nanavati shares. She points to predictive maintenance as a clear win, having 'significantly reduced unplanned downtime.' The company also uses AI to optimise inventory, a growing challenge in today's dynamic supply chain environment. Powering intelligent driving and sustainability Mahindra is actively integrating AI-driven intelligent driving and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) capabilities through MAIA (Mahindra AI Architecture), its proprietary AI platform powering next-gen electric SUVs. 'Tuned specifically for Indian driving conditions, MAIA combines data from multiple cameras and radars to enhance safety and adaptability on diverse roads,' she says. MAIA is also foundational to the company's software-defined vehicle strategy, built for continuous upgrades and innovation responsiveness. At Mahindra, AI forms the backbone of its sustainability strategy.'In manufacturing plants, AI agents are used to identify anomalies and patterns in energy consumption to ensure a balance of sustainability and throughput,' Nanavati explains. These capabilities support emissions monitoring and operational efficiency across the company's industrial footprint. Building capability and governance To embed AI at scale, Mahindra has set up an AI division at the group level to centralise expertise and cross-pollinate learnings across business units. This is backed by business-focused AI workshops, practical training, and a culture of shared accountability, where business leaders, not just tech teams, drive adoption. With great power comes great responsibility, as the saying goes, so equally important is governance. 'We embed responsible, ethical, and secure AI principles into every deployment—ensuring transparency by involving expert human oversight,' says Nanavati. The company has instituted audits, privacy safeguards, and secure-by-design principles under the oversight of an AI working committee and governance council. For peers still struggling to move beyond pilots, Nanavati's advice is clear. 'Anchor the AI strategy in core business priorities. With AI technology evolving at a rapid pace, fostering a culture of continuous learning is crucial.' Strong data foundations, governance frameworks, and leadership sponsorship are non-negotiable, she notes. 'It ensures that AI becomes an integral part of daily operations, rather than a siloed technology experiment.'
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Business Standard
01-08-2025
- Automotive
- Business Standard
Mahindra & Mahindra vehicle sales rise 26% to 83,691 units in July
Mahindra & Mahindra on Friday posted a 26 per cent year-on-year increase in total sales at 83,691 units in July, as compared to 66,444 units in the same month last year. In the utility vehicles segment, the Mumbai-based automaker sold 49,871 units in the domestic market, a growth of 20 per cent, as compared to 41,623 units in July last year. "Our SUV growth has been supported by the recent launch of XUV 3XO 'REVX' Series & the commencement of deliveries for Pack two variants of the BE 6 and XEV 9E models, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) CEO Automotive Division Nalinikanth Gollagunta said. The company said its tractor sales in the domestic market stood at 26,990 units last month, as against 25,587 units in July 2024, a growth of 5 per cent. Total tractor sales (domestic and exports) last month were at 28,708 units, as against 27,209 units for the same period last year. "This performance was driven by sustained land preparation activities, supported by robust cash flows in rural markets following the conclusion of Rabi crop harvesting," M&M President - Farm Equipment Business Veejay Nakra said. Additionally, the normal progression of monsoon across most regions further contributed to good demand during the onset of sowing for the Kharif season, he added. "In the exports market, we have sold 1,718 tractors, a growth of 6 per cent over last year," Nakra said.
Time of India
01-08-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Mahindra records 26% sales growth in July to 83,691 units
Mahindra & Mahindra has reported auto sales of 83,691 units in July 2025, reflecting a 26 per cent year-on-year growth, inclusive of exports. The company's performance was led by a strong showing in the utility vehicle segment, where domestic sales reached 49,871 units, marking a 20 per cent increase compared to the same month last year. Including exports, utility vehicle sales stood at 50,835 units. According to Nalinikanth Gollagunta, CEO, Automotive Division, M&M Ltd., the company's July performance was supported by recent product launches. 'In July, we achieved SUV sales of 49,871 units, a growth of 20 per cent, and total vehicle sales of 83,691 units, a 26 per cent growth compared to the same month last year. Our SUV growth has been supported by the recent launch of XUV 3XO 'REVX' Series and the commencement of deliveries for Pack two variants of the BE 6 and XUV 9E models,' he said. Mixed results in commercial vehicles, surge in exports In the commercial vehicle category, sales showed a mixed trend. The company registered lower sales in the sub-2T light commercial vehicle segment, while mid-sized and heavy commercial vehicles showed moderate growth. Sales of three-wheelers, including electric variants, surged significantly, contributing to the overall positive trajectory. Exports also registered strong growth during the month, increasing by 83 per cent to 2,774 units from 1,515 units in July 2024. Year-to-date domestic utility vehicle sales stood at 201,938 units, up from 165,871 units during the same period in the previous financial year, reflecting a 22 per cent rise.
Economic Times
25-07-2025
- Automotive
- Economic Times
Indian auto industry faces subdued FY26 growth amidst weak demand: Report
The Indian auto industry is expected to experience subdued growth in FY26, with most segments anticipating low to mid-single-digit growth, as revealed in a recent report by Motilal Oswal. Motilal Oswal report believes that the Indian Automobile industry is likely to witness just 6-7 per cent of growth rate for FY26. The report further reveals that a key challenge lies in the two-wheeler segment, where the current growth estimates carry a downside risk if demand doesn't pick up momentum in the near present, the key auto segments are facing weakness in demand, which has led to passenger vehicles posting a decline of 1.4 per cent, while two-wheeler ICE registered a decline of 8 per cent in volumes. Additionally, the commercial vehicle segment also booked marginal declines. Specifically, in the two-wheeler segment, motorcycle sales recorded a 9 per cent YoY decline, scooter ICE sales recorded a 5 per cent decline, and mopeds recorded an 11 per cent YoY decline. Additionally, the report also reveals that the car segment posted an 11 per cent YoY decline in Q1, with all players witnessing a decline in volumes. Precisely, the small car segment saw a significant decline in volumes: Alto (-36 per cent), Spresso (-38 per cent), and Celerio (-43 per cent).However, Nalinikant Gollagunta, CEO Automotive Division, MM, believes that "confident of mid to high teens growth in SUVs, strong double digit growth in exports and will stick to guidance of high single digit growth for LCVs for FY26."According to the report, in the CV segment, while MHCV (Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicles) goods declined 4.5 per cent, LCV (Light Commercial Vehicle) goods marginally declined 0.5 per cent for Q1FY26. Bus continued to witness steady demand, with MHCV buses growing 7.6 per cent and LCV buses growing 8.8 per cent. In the commercial vehicle segment, Tata Motors Limited underperformed in all four CV segments, while VECV VE Commercial Vehicles Limited outperformed in most of the CV segments in Q1. (ANI)
Time of India
08-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
7-seater models riding high on boost from Indian families
Seating capacity matters when Indians choose their sport or multi-utility vehicle. Whether it's for accommodating visiting grandparents, planning weekend getaways with the extended family, or simply enjoying extra comfort during long commutes, Indians are increasingly looking for space and flexibility in their personal vehicles. And seven-seaters are often the default choice when they are shopping for a large SUV or an MPV. In the segment for SUVs that are 4.5 meters or longer, seven-seaters now account for 78per cent of sales, up from 58per cent in 2022, even as the share of five-seater SUVs shrank to 18per cent from 43%, show data from auto-motive analytics and intelligence firm Jato Dynamics . In MPVS longer than 4.0 meters, seven-seaters command 86per cent of the market. It's not just the big joint families that are buying these vehicles that can accommodate more people. Even smaller, nuclear families are now choosing seven-seaters for their flexibility, whether it's accommodating guests or embarking on long road journeys, said Nalinikanth Gollagunta, chief executive of the Automotive Division at M&M, the manufacturer of the Scorpio and XUV 700 SUVs. Partho Banerjee, senior executive officer at Maruti Suzuki , said young buyers are increasingly choosing MPVs for evolving family needs and versatility. 'The average age for one of our highest selling MPVs, Ertiga (a seven-seater), has fallen from 40 years to 37 years as per internal data in the last five years,' he said. The seven-seater models make up nearly the entire MPV portfolio for Maruti Suzuki with Ertiga leading the segment. The seven-seater trend reflects a deeper lifestyle evolution, said Ravi Bhatia, president Jato Dynamics. 'This shift in configuration demand is not cyclical, it's structural.' While SUVs continue to dominate sales, consumers, especially families, are also increasingly considering the space and flexibility that MPVs offer. They now account for 11per cent of the auto industry sales volume compared with 8per cent in FY22. MPVs are also becoming more feature-rich, attracting younger buyers too. Hardeep Singh Brar, senior vice president and national head of sales and marketing at Kia India, said its MPV Carens offers features typically reserved for SUVs, like connected car technology, ventilated seats and a sunroof. MPVs now account for 25-27per cent of Kia's sales in India, he said.
