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M&M blazes into Humvee club with Axe-Automobiles-Auto-News By Industry-News-The Economic Times
India is all set to get its first high mobility multipurpose-wheeled vehicle or the Humvee, christened Mahindra Axe.
When ET pressed the company for details of the engine capacity, executives were tight-lipped. “We have designed a vehicle called the Mahindra Axe for the Indian Army as per their specifications. In due course, we will look at homologating it and getting a civilian variant of this high-powered vehicle.
This is an IPR of M&M and even the engine is indigenously developed. Two prototypes have been developed for Army testing,” said Mahindra Defence Systems CEO Khutub A Hai. Sources said that the Axe will have both open and hard-top versions, capable of mounting artillery. The Mahindra Axe has been developed by a team of designers, which includes some from abroad, Mr Hai said. “We have also imported some components from abroad.”
Auto analyst Murad Ali Baig, too, confirmed the M&M foray into the semi-amphibian Humvee. “Yes, Mahindra’s plans for a vehicle like the Humvee are on track. I believe they will look at developing a softer variant for civilian purposes. This kind of a vehicle is very heavy, consumes a large amount of fuel and is largely for off-road applications. It will have a very niche market when launched,” he said.