Mahindra 2 Wheelers inaugurates new R&D centre in Pune

Mahindra will launch two bikes within this financial year: the revamped 110cc Stallio and the long-delayed 300cc Mojo. The announcement came at the inauguration of Mahindra’s state-of-the-art R&D facility in Pune today. The Stallio will be launched ahead of the October festival season while the Mojo will be rolled out in the fourth quarter of the current financial year, which is January to March 2013. A third bike is also in the offing, details of which weren’t disclosed saying it would be “a pleasant surprise.”

The company also unveiled the two engines that will power the Stallio and Mojo, both of which have been developed at the facility. The first is a 110cc, 4-stroke, air-cooled SOHC engine while the other is a 300cc, 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, electronic fuel-injected, 6-speed, DOHC mill. Also Read: Mahindra Two Wheelers inaugurates 393rd dealership

Engines aside, Mahindra showcased the new start-stop Duro DZ, India’s first scooter with Micro Hybrid technology. The patented battery charging system helps conserve fuel whenever the scooter is idling, such as at traffic signals, leading to a 5 per cent improvement in mileage. It also helps reduce CO2 emissions by 7 per cent making the Duro DZ a greener scooter. 

Speaking at the new R&D centre’s inauguration, Anand Mahindra, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Mahindra Group, said, “The Micro Hybrid technology developed for the Duro DZ is a clear validation of the value it offers to the business. In future, I’m sure we’ll see this R&D facility emerge as a symbol of Indian ingenuity.”

The two-wheeler R&D facility – the third largest of its kind in India and recognised by the Department of Science and Industrial Research – showcases M&M’s commitment to technology driven innovation. Created at an investment of Rs 100 crore, the facility employs over 175 ‘young and enthusiastic’ engineers and designers, the numbers of which will go up to 300 in future. In all, Mahindra plans to pump in Rs 500 crore in two-wheeler R&D in the next five years.

Commenting on the benefits of the new R&D centre, PS Ashok, Head – Research and Development, Mahindra Two Wheelers said, “This multi-faceted R&D facility boasts of truly advanced facilities in the two-wheeler industry in India including a Design Studio, Prototyping Centre, Engine Development Centre (EDC), CAE/CFD facility, Fatigue Test and Reliability Lab, and an Electrical and Electronics Lab, among others. The centre will develop prototypes and components from design through to production, which will then be transferred to the company’s brand-new production lines at Mahindra Two Wheelers’ Pithampur plant.”