Mahindra has a wealth of new models in the pipeline, and all of them will come with advanced driver assist systems (ADAS), including features like autonomous emergency braking (AEB).
“So the next phase of products, all of them, we are developing with [ADAS],” said Mahindra Automotive technology and product development president R. ‘Velu’ Velusamy during a recent interview with Australian media.
The first Mahindra vehicle to receive AEB was the XUV700 medium SUV, though it’s reserved for the top-spec seven-seat variants and is part of an ADAS suite that also adds features like lane-keep assist, Smart Pilot Assist, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and automatic high-beam.
Scorpio
All XUV700s in Australia will feature this equipment as standard, though Mahindra recently introduced the new body-on-frame Scorpio without autonomous emergency braking.
During the interview Mr Velusamy reconfirmed ADAS will come to the Scorpio “within its product lifecycle”, meaning it will come as part of a mid-life update.
Other vehicles that are in the works for Mahindra include a refreshed version of the Thar rugged off-roader with a longer-wheelbase five-door version, a range of electric vehicles (EVs) with VW MEB electrical components, and a next-generation Pik-Up that’s based on the recently launched Scorpio.
Thar
It’s unclear if these upcoming models will receive singular ADAS functions, like autonomous emergency braking by itself, of if they will be bundled into a suite like in the current top-spec XUV700 variants.
Any vehicle Mahindra wants to approve to be sold in Australia is now required to have autonomous emergency braking as standard per Australian Design Rule 98/00 – Advanced Emergency Braking for Passenger Vehicles and Light Good Vehicles.
As the name suggests it mandates the standard fitment of autonomous emergency braking which can apply the brakes if it detects an imminent forward collision.
XUV700
It came into effect for all new vehicles approved for sale from March 1, 2023.
The Mahindra Scorpio sidestepped this because although it went on sale in April this year, it was technically approved for sale back in November 24, 2022.
Autonomous emergency braking will then become mandatory on all new cars sold in Australia from March 1, 2025.
MORE: Mahindra waiting for key safety tech before ANCAP testing Scorpio
MORE: Mahindra Scorpio-N won’t have AEB until mid-life update
MORE: Mahindra Thar 5-Door: Rugged off-roader could come to Australia
MORE: Mahindra readying new ute, five-door Thar off-roader
MORE: Mahindra eyes electric cars for Australia
