M&M core team to make new products

MUMBAI, March 24: The utility vehicle maker, Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) has set up a core team of research and development professionals to work on a new utility vehicle for the Indian market. The Integrated Design and Manufacture (IDAM) team at Kandivali would build a range of new generation of utility vehicles which will take on the world majors.

Officials say the new IDAM product, under the code name `Project Scorpio’ will be based on a totally new platform, carefully calibrated to suit the needs of the customers. The team, working on the project, is trying to build flexibility in the IDAM design so that introductions of variants focused on different market segments are possible. “A team from Ford of the US is working closely with our officials on this project,” said an official.

Meanwhile, as the company has decided to give priority to `Scorpio’, the character of the company’s joint venture with Ford — Mahindra Ford India Ltd — will change from a 50:50 to one where Ford will have a majoritystake. But M & M will have the option to increase its stake at a later date. However, Ford will retain its six per cent stake in M & M.

The IDAM centre at the Kandivali unit, started two years back, already employs over 100 qualified engineers and is equipped with all facilities, including CAD and vehicle modeling.