New Delhi: Strengthening its engineering muscle for the next wave of SUVs, EVs and future mobility platforms, Mahindra & Mahindra has announced the expansion of its Advanced Research & Development Centre along with additional testing facilities at the Mahindra Research Valley (MRV) in Chennai. The move comes with a fresh investment of approximately ₹196 crore, signalling the company’s continued push toward deeper localisation, stronger product engineering and technology-led growth under the Make in India vision.
The ground-breaking ceremony in Chennai was attended by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin along with Industries Minister T. R. B. Rajaa. The expanded facility is expected to become operational within the current calendar year.
Bigger Labs, Faster Testing, Smarter Vehicles
The investment is aimed at significantly enhancing Mahindra’s ability to support advanced vehicle design, product engineering and future technology development across multiple segments. The new R&D infrastructure and testing capabilities will help the company accelerate development of next-generation platforms — from rugged SUVs to emerging electrified mobility solutions.
In simpler terms: more wind tunnels, more validation tracks, more engineers staring intensely at laptops… and hopefully fewer “beta version” moments once the cars reach customers.
Chennai Strengthens Its Role as Mahindra’s Innovation Hub
Mahindra Research Valley already functions as the company’s global engineering nerve centre. Spread across a 125-acre campus, the facility currently houses around 5,000 skilled professionals.
With the expansion, the company expects to create employment for an additional around 2,000 engineers, researchers and technical specialists, reinforcing Chennai’s importance as one of India’s major automotive R&D clusters.
Leadership Speaks
R. Velusamy, President – Automotive Business, Mahindra & Mahindra, said the expansion reflects the company’s long-term commitment to advancing engineering capabilities in India while boosting global competitiveness. He added that supported by Tamil Nadu’s strong industrial ecosystem and talent pool, MRV will continue serving as Mahindra’s global hub for innovation, engineering excellence and future-ready mobility solutions.
Why This Matters for the Industry
At a time when automakers are racing toward software-defined vehicles, advanced safety systems and electrification, strengthening domestic R&D infrastructure has become critical. Mahindra’s latest investment signals that the next generation of its vehicles will be increasingly engineered, tested and validated within India — not just assembled here.
And if India’s SUV market keeps growing at its current pace, Mahindra’s engineers at MRV may soon need not just bigger labs… but possibly bigger coffee machines too.
