Mahindra & Mahindra has made an entry into the UK
automotive market with the launch of the innovative e2o electric city car. At
an event at London’s Design Museum, Mahindra Group Chairman, Anand Mahindra
unveiled its pricing and specifications. The company has introduced two
versions of the e2o: e2o City 12,995 UK Pounds (Rs 12.26 lakh approx) and e2o
TechX 15,995 UK Pounds (Rs 15.09 lakh approx.)
The higher-spec TechX version includes
a touchscreen infotainment centre with reversing camera, telematics, Revive
remote emergency recharging, leather seats, alloy wheels and a rapid charging
port.
In addition to its competitive
purchase price, e2o owners that drive the UK average of 7,900 miles per year,
and who charge at home at night on an Economy 7 tariff, will pay under £10 per
month on fuel, while also eliminating the release of airborne pollutants within
their city environment.
Speaking about the e2o’s
arrival on British roads, Anand Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra Group noted, “I am
very proud to announce that the e2o is now available in the UK and this marks a
true milestone for the Mahindra Group. I invite people to come and test drive
the Mahindra e2o ‘ElectriCity Car’ and help drive a positive change to the air
quality in their cities. Sustainability is at the heart of Mahindra’s business
practices and with the introduction of the e2o to the UK market, we are offering
a product that perfectly encapsulates our corporate philosophy.”
Pravin Shah, President &
Chief Executive of Mahindra’s Automotive operations believes that the e2o is
the right car at the right time for the UK market and according to him, “There
has never been a better time for people to make the change to electric, and
with the e2o there has never been an easier or more affordable way to make this
transition. The e2o is an innovative combination of advancements in automotive,
electronics and information technology paired with minimal running costs and
zero tailpipe emissions. This makes it the ideal urban runabout or second car
for the two-and-a-half-million UK households that can charge the car at home in
a driveway or garage.”
The Mayor of London, Boris
Johnson MP is enthusiastic about the e2o being launched in London, saying: “I
want to congratulate Mahindra on the launch of their new electric car today.
Supporting ultra-low emission vehicles has been a priority at City Hall as they
can boost air quality, help tackle climate change and reduce fuel costs and I
look forward to seeing e2os on London’s streets.”
At the core of the e2o is a
collection of connected features that were developed to make the car both
easier and more enjoyable to drive and maintain:
e2o Remote smartphone app –
allows users to remotely control key functions of their e2o including the
ability to pre-heat/cool the car, start and stop charging, route plan and
search for nearby charging stations.
Remote Charging Scheduler – a clever
app that allows users to schedule charging of their e2o at a time when
electricity costs are at their cheapest rate
Revive – remote emergency
charging feature to grant the driver up to 8 miles worth of range if the
battery is depleted.
Telematics – on-board sensors
send a data ‘heartbeat’ to Mahindra enabling remote health monitoring and
customer alerts.
Blaupunkt touchscreen
infotainment centre (TechX model only) – Satellite navigation with ‘range
remaining’ maps featuring charge point locations. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi hotspot
connection, USB, SD card, DAB radio and a built-in reversing camera.
The e2o’s tall-boy design
offers superior visibility for a compact city car and comfortably seats four
adults. It is equipped with dual SRS
airbags, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and
a Regenerative Braking System (RBS) that harnesses energy during braking to
extend the car’s range while travelling.
Customers can now book test
drives online in London, Birmingham, Bristol and Milton Keynes, with additional
test drive cities to be announced later.
Source: Mahindra
& Mahindra