KATHMANDU: Two premium electric SUVs of Indian automaker Mahindra are currently undergoing road tests in Nepal ahead of their launch.
The XEV 9e and BE 6 are close to completing 10,000 km of road testing in Nepal. The cars are being tested across diverse terrains in the mountains, hills and the lowlands of Tarai to ensure performance and reliability before they are formally launched, according to Agni Incorporated — the official Mahindra distributor in Nepal.
Mahindra plans to launch the two SUVs during the NAIMA Nepal Mobility Expo in the first week of August.
The Indian company has been testing the vehicles in locations ranging from Himalayan towns like Jomsom, Rasuwagadhi and Tatopani to various cities in the far-western and eastern regions of Nepal.
Chaitanya Kagalkar, Country Head of Mahindra in Nepal, said the company has brought in three units of each model for testing. “We will begin sales only after completing 10,000 km of testing across Nepal’s varied road conditions,” Kagalkar told MeroAuto.
Mahindra plans to launch the two SUVs during the NAIMA Nepal Mobility Expo in the first week of August.
He added that Mahindra would launch the vehicles after they are fully confident in their performance. “During testing, we are evaluating AC and DC fast charging, connectivity, range, power performance, ground clearance and other key aspects,” he explained.
Both SUVs come with two battery options—59 kWh and 79 kWh. They will be offered with two motor variants—99 kW and 199 kW.
According to a price list published in the last week of May by Agni Incorporated, BE 6 will start from Rs 7.63 million and XUV 9e from Rs 7.765 million.
