Mumbai:
In a New Year address that blended balance sheets with big ideas (and just enough optimism to power an EV), Anand Mahindra, Chairman of Mahindra Group, reflected on a blockbuster 2025 for the Group while laying out an ambitious roadmap for India’s future across mobility, manufacturing, skills, education—and yes, artificial intelligence.
If 2025 were a vehicle, Mahindra would say it came with record torque, best-in-class traction, and zero warning lights on the dashboard.
2025: When Market Leadership Met Overdrive
Mr. Mahindra described the past year as “deeply satisfying”—not merely because of strong numbers, but because Mahindra, in his words, redefined expectations.
- The Group’s SUV business cruised ahead with record market share, proving that customer intuition still beats crystal balls.
- Farm equipment clocked its highest-ever quarterly market share, reminding everyone that innovation doesn’t just live in cities—it ploughs fields too.
- Electric three-wheelers continued to dominate their segment, quietly electrifying India’s last-mile mobility.
- Tech Mahindra delivered its eighth straight quarter of margin expansion, sharpening its AI and operational edge.
- Mahindra Finance combined strong profit growth with industry-leading asset quality—rare balance, like power with mileage.
- Mahindra Lifespaces expanded its sustainable real estate footprint with record GDV additions and Net Zero projects.
- Mahindra Holidays unveiled Mahindra Signature Resorts, signalling a pivot towards experience-led travel.
- Mahindra Susten kept India’s green ambitions charged up with renewable energy innovation.
“These are not just milestones,” Mr. Mahindra noted, “they are launchpads.” Translation: buckle up.
From Rugged to Radical: The Frontier Innovation Shift
Mahindra’s journey, he said, has moved decisively from being known for rugged dependability to becoming a symbol of frontier innovation. Electric vehicles didn’t just alter the portfolio—they changed perceptions.
“EVs changed the conversation,” he observed, signalling that Mahindra is no longer just adapting to the future of mobility, but actively shaping it. And once you raise the bar, the only direction left is… higher.
AI & the Big Rethink: Why Blue Collar Is the New Gold Collar
Perhaps the most talked-about idea in the address was Mr. Mahindra’s take on AI. While much of the world worries about disruption, he offered a contrarian view: AI is an accelerator, not a threat.
His headline thought? “Blue collar is the new gold collar.”
As AI takes over routine tasks, practical, hands-on skills—enhanced by intelligent systems—will command premium value. Technicians, machinists and craftspeople who can work alongside AI, he said, will gain income, dignity and long-term relevance.
In short: when smart tech meets skilled hands, the shop floor becomes as valuable as the corner office.
Skills, Not Just Degrees: Walking the Talk
Backing words with action, Mr. Mahindra highlighted his new role as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Young India Skills University in Telangana—a pioneering institution focused on blending high-tech proficiency with vocational mastery.
From Mahindra Tractors’ skill development centres to Tech Mahindra’s future-ready talent academies, the Group is investing heavily in building the talent pipeline the world will need—not just the one it currently demands.
Education’s Moment: From Brain Drain to Brain Gain
Mr. Mahindra also pointed to a tectonic shift in global talent mobility. As visa regimes tighten and education policies evolve in the West, India has a historic opportunity to convert decades of brain drain into brain gain.
With Global Capability Centers (GCCs rapidly expanding across India, global confidence is already evident. The missing piece, he argued, is world-class educational institutions at home.
Mahindra University: Scaling Global Ambition
To seize this moment, Mahindra University is scaling up to become a global lighthouse for learning. Mr. Mahindra pledged significant personal time and financial commitment, underscoring his belief that education is not just a social good—it is India’s most strategic investment.
“We are not just educating students,” he said. “We are nurturing creators, builders and innovators.”
A Call to the Mahindra Community
In a rousing close, Mr. Mahindra called on Mahindra leaders and employees to step up as mentors and teachers—designing industry-relevant curricula, offering internships, and turning blue-collar roles into gold-collar careers.
“Our businesses,” he reminded, “are the ultimate laboratories.”
Looking Ahead: Building Through Uncertainty
Acknowledging a volatile global landscape shaped by rapid technological change and shifting geopolitics, Mr. Mahindra struck a confident note: uncertainty is not an enemy—it is a proving ground.
With sharper capabilities, deeper skills, and an unwavering commitment to talent, Mahindra aims not just to navigate the future, but to build it.
“The future belongs to those who build it,” he concluded.
“Let us build it together.”
And with that, Mahindra didn’t just wish the nation a Happy New Year—it handed it a blueprint.
