According to reports from Business Standard, Mahindra Group has announced the expansion of its Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) programme across its entire Electric Origin SUV portfolio. The programme is now available on the BE 6 SPORTEQ, XEV 9S and XEV 9e models, significantly broadening accessibility to the company's electric vehicle offerings. The BaaS model reflects a broader push in the electric vehicle industry to address high upfront costs, which have been cited as a key barrier to EV adoption in India. By separating the battery from the vehicle's purchase price, manufacturers aim to bring the initial cost of an EV closer to that of comparable petrol or diesel models.
As reported by Business Standard, the BaaS programme was introduced with the launch of the BE 6 SPORTEQ and operates through a unique dual-financing structure. Under this arrangement, customers can purchase the vehicle for ₹11.45 lakh and finance the battery separately at an effective usage cost of ₹3.75 per km. The XEV 9S starts at ₹12.65 lakh with battery financing available at ₹6,975 per month, while the more premium XEV 9e starts at ₹13.90 lakh with battery costs also charged at ₹6,975 per month. Mahindra has clarified that the ₹3.75/km effective cost is calculated assuming usage of 60 km per day along with a specific down payment, with actual battery EMI varying depending on battery capacity, down payment and loan tenure. The BaaS prices exclude charger cost, road tax, insurance, TCS and other applicable statutory levies, and the programme is currently applicable only for personal use.
According to Zee News, the BaaS programme has delivered significant cost reductions for Mahindra's electric SUVs. Without BaaS, the XEV 9S starts at ₹20.65 lakh and the XEV 9e is priced from ₹21.90 lakh (ex-showroom). The BaaS programme reduced the entry price of the XEV 9e and the XEV 9S by ₹8 lakh, representing a significant cut to the upfront cost of these vehicles. Mahindra states that this move is part of its broader push to make EV ownership simpler and more accessible by lowering the upfront cost and giving buyers more flexible ways to own an electric vehicle. The company's official statement emphasizes that "This significantly lowers the upfront purchase cost while providing customers flexibility in managing their monthly outflow."
According to Business Standard, the BaaS programme has received an overwhelming response from customers across the country, validating the demand for ownership solutions that lower the barriers to EV adoption. The initiative offers a smarter way to own an EV by providing greater flexibility in managing monthly outflows while maintaining the benefits of electric vehicle ownership across Mahindra's Electric Origin SUV range. The decision to expand the programme follows the strong customer response since its introduction, pointing to demand for ownership models that reduce the financial burden of switching to electric vehicles. With the expansion, BaaS financing is available across every variant of all three models — the BE 6 SPORTEQ, XEV 9S and XEV 9e. The timing of this expansion is particularly significant, coming soon after the launch of MG Hector Tomahawk EV, adding another competitor in the electric SUV segment and putting greater focus on pricing and financing options. Mahindra has clarified that its BaaS offering is a finance product and not a pay-per-use programme, with the ₹3.75/km effective cost calculated assuming usage of 60 km per day along with specific down payment requirements.
