The Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) is gaining popularity among Indian car buyers as a practical safety feature. Major car manufacturers like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Toyota, Mahindra, and Tata are now offering ADAS with their top-selling models. Mahindra & Mahindra recently revealed that over 1 lakh customers of its XUV700 have opted for the ADAS-equipped variant (AX7) of the SUV. The technology, which enhances comfort and safety, has encouraged Mahindra customers to invest in this feature. Read: Mahindra Thar Electric SUV Debut On 15th Aug – What to Expect?
The Mahindra XUV700 currently offers Level 2 Driving Automation, which includes features like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, high beam assist, lane keep assist, front collision warning, smart pilot assist, high beam assist, and traffic sign recognition. Compared to Level 1 ADAS, Level 2 ADAS provides a higher level of automation, allowing simultaneous control of steering and acceleration/deceleration. However, the driver is still required to remain engaged and attentive, ready to take control if necessary.
Speaking to a media publication, Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director, and CEO at Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., talked about the relevance of ADAS technology for Indian conditions. He mentioned the company’s plans to introduce it on more models, although specific names were not disclosed. Possible candidates could include the XUV300 subcompact SUV, XUV400 EV, and Scorpio N. The upcoming Mahindra Scorpio N pickup truck, set to debut on August 15, may also benefit from the ADAS technology.
Additionally, Mahindra & Mahindra shared that the company currently has a backlog of over 2.81 lakh SUVs, with over 1 lakh SUVs delivered in the current quarter. To meet the strong demand, the automaker aims to increase production from 37,000 units per month in July to 49,000 units per month by the last quarter of the fiscal year 2024.
The carmaker currently has a significant number of open bookings for its popular SUVs, the Scorpio and Thar. For the Scorpio, which includes both the Scorpio N and Scorpio Classic variants, there are over 1.17 lakh open bookings. As for the Thar SUV, there are around 68,000 open bookings. To meet this high demand, the carmaker is producing approximately 14,000 units of the Scorpio every month and around 10,000 units of the Thar every month. This production rate is a testament to the strong interest and popularity of these SUV models among consumers in the market.
