Thursday, April 10, 2025
By Kamal Swami
Mahindra Unveils Expanded Design Studio in Mumbai
Since the domestic carmaker, Mahindra & Mahindra unveiled its newly expanded Mahindra India Design Studio (MIDS) in Kandivali, Mumbai, the auto industry is waiting for a big surprise from the carmaker. Industry experts believe that this step by Mahindra will strengthen its design and innovation efficiencies and the world will see some incredible vehicles coming from the Mahindra’s ranch. The move by Mahindra & Mahindra further created a buzz after a cryptic social media post from Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra, hinting at “something major” in the works at the design division. The teaser, shared on platform X, accompanied by an image of the new studio, immediately sparked widespread speculation among auto enthusiasts and industry observers.
“Not content with taking a mighty leap in vehicle engineering, mechanical advancement, cutting edge dynamics & passenger safety engineering, @mahindra_auto has taken a step up to beef its design & style capabilities with the opening of its all-new design studio at Kandivali,” read the user’s caption on the post.
Mixed Reactions From the Public The post from Ananad Mahindra started getting immediate actions on social media platform with some readers excited by the announcement while some criticising the new step. Some users expressed a strong desire to see Mahindra enter the mid-range sedan segment — a space the company has largely avoided in recent years.
“Everything is good, but Mahindra needs to make a Class Sedan Model now as it can give competition to all higher-end models of the current market, like Verna, Ciaz, and City,” commented one user. Another enthusiast praised Mahindra’s existing lineup, saying, “Wonder Car. Thanks for gifting me Mahindra BE6.” Among such encouraging comments from users, there were many who criticised Mahindra. Critics raised concerns about the aesthetics of Mahindra’s latest designs, with one user remarking, “While design is subjective, I found the design of new electric vehicles loud and excessive. It lacks simplicity, sophistication.” Others called for a return to more traditional styling. “How about designing something retro? Sometimes to step into the future you need to take inspiration from the past,” one post read.
A Renewed Design Focus
Despite the mixed opinions, industry experts see the revamped MIDS as a strategic investment. MIDS was established in 2015 to support both Mahindra’s Auto and Farm Equipment sectors, the facility has now doubled in size. The expansion is intended to accommodate the company’s broadening product range, including its Last Mile Mobility (LMM) division. In an official statement, Mahindra & Mahindra said, “The company has doubled the size of the existing studio and reaffirmed the automaker's commitment to design excellence as a cornerstone of its product development strategy.”. MIDS also functions as a creative bridge between Mahindra’s domestic design efforts and its global counterpart, Mahindra Advanced Design Europe (MADE), located in the UK.
What Lies Ahead?
While Mahindra has yet to confirm the development of a new sedan, the increased emphasis on design, followed by a heart-touching post from Chairman Anand Mahindra suggests that something significant may be in the pipeline. For now, the auto industry will be watching closely to see whether the company is preparing to challenge established players in the competitive sedan segment.
