BYD To Help Ssangyong Build EV Batteries, But Mahindra Isn’t Likely To Benefit

Chinese carmaker BYD has agreed to lend its expertise to help Ssangyong develop batteries for electric vehicles (EVs). The U100 EV, scheduled to arrive in 2023, will be the first electric car to be born from this alliance. But we aren't likely to see these BYD batteries in Mahindra cars, since the Indian carmaker is giving up Ssangyong's ownership to a new company.   

The U100 won’t be Ssangyong’s first attempt at building an electric car. It already sells the Jeep Compass-sized Ssangyong Korando e-Motion SUV in its home market of South Korea. It’s an electric SUV powered by a 62kWh battery that’s good for a 339km claimed range. 

Ssangyong’s domestic market rivals Hyundai and Kia have already demonstrated that electric vehicles are the future. Moving away from conventional cars and SUVs will be a challenge for Ssangyong, but it’s betting its future on advanced battery packs being developed in China by BYD. The Korean carmaker had filed for bankruptcy in late 2020 and sought court protection to stay afloat. 

In Korea, court receivership leaves it up to the judiciary to decide how to revive the company. Ssangyong is no longer dangling over the edge since Korean bus manufacturer Edison Motor has stepped in to take over the company, end the receivership, and save the carmaker from extinction.

Also read: BYD e6 Electric MPV Launched In India At Rs 29.15 Lakh

It’s too early to tell how the fallout with Ssangyong will affect Mahindra’s operations in India. The carmaker has two EVs up its sleeve – the XUV300 Electric SUV and the eKUV100 hatchback – that are expected to be launched in 2022.