India’s leading automotive manufacturer, Mahindra & Mahindra has been in talks with global investors to raise between $250 million and $500 million to accelerate its plans to build electric vehicles (EVs).
Mahindra is in early talks with global green funds and private equity firms, the source said, adding that it wants a long-term investor who can help build out its EV business.
Some investors, however, in recent months have shown interest in participating in a funding round worth around $800 million, two banking industry sources said, adding that they have held talks with the company about such offers.
While Mahindra is not actively looking to raise a higher amount than $250-$500 million, it is not closed to the idea of raising the deal size depending on the terms and valuation, the first source said.
“Mahindra wants to bring benchmark investors on board but does not want to dilute a large stake at present,” he said, adding that these plans are at an early stage and subject to changes.
Mahindra’s new EV unit for which it is raising the funds was valued at $9.1 billion in July after its first raise of $250 million from British International Investment (BII).
It was not immediately clear what valuation the investors are offering or what the company is seeking for the new round.
Mahindra told in a statement it has committed to investing $500 million in the electric SUV space along with BII, and that the two companies will work together to bring other “like-minded, climate focused investors” into the EV unit.
The talks come weeks after Mahindra outlined an ambitious plan to launch five electric SUVs over the next few years and is targeting such models to make up 30% of its total annual SUV sales by March 2027. The carmaker’s first electric SUV is expected to be available for sale in January.
The funds will help the automaker build a war chest to compete against rival Tata Motors which dominates India’s nascent electric car market.
Mahindra has partnered with Germany’s Volkswagen to procure components like electric drivetrains and batteries for its electric SUVs, and the two are exploring joint vehicle projects, building battery cells locally and developing charging solutions.
The Indian automaker has said it is open to making some investments in a battery cell maker to secure future supplies and is also evaluating the need to set up manufacturing capacity for EVs, according to local media reports.
Mahindra’s fundraising also comes at a time when there is growing investor interest in India’s clean mobility transition resulting in “more money chasing few assets”, one of the two banking sources said.
