Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) created great excitement at the India Auto Expo 2018 by introducing six electric vehicles and concepts. Taking forward the lead it already has in the electric segment among Indian vehicles, the India based International automobile player has played a key role in developing the electric car version for Ford Motor Company's sedan 'Aspire'. The Ford Aspire Electric Vehicle will be the first car to be rolled out of the Mahindra-Ford collaboration.

According to a report by the Times Of India, the Mahindra backed Ford Aspire will be the cheapest electric car introduced and is expected to hit the markets in early 2019. The paper also quoted a top score saying, "Ford has gained tremendously from Mahindra’s strength in electric vehicles technology. The Aspire will be the first to hit the roads and, unlike its existing petrol/diesel version, which is under 4-meters in length, the electric variant will be a longer one. This is being developed jointly, and is an ambitious and bold step. The joint SUV project is at a very advanced stage and while there will be a joint platform, the design will be individual for both the companies in line with their brand philosophies."

Mahindra & Mahindra's help to Ford has ensured that the latter can enter Indian market with the Ford Aspire smoothly and do so before Maruti Suzuki which has announced its entry in the electric car market in the year 2020. According to reports, Mahindra and Ford is also working on building a common platform for developing separate individual SUVs that would be sold under individual brand names. Mahindra & Mahindra is already India's largest Utility Vehicle (UV) maker and it would be interesting to see which new wonder the factory can manufacture through this platform.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 27, 2018 02:16 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).