Mumbai: Mahindra Last Mile Mobility Limited has been named among the 15 global Finalists for The Earthshot Prize 2026, making it the only automotive manufacturer and corporate organisation in this year’s finalist group.
The Mahindra & Mahindra subsidiary has been selected in the ‘Clean Our Air’ category for its work in expanding electric last-mile transportation in India, where three-wheelers and small commercial vehicles form an important part of daily urban mobility and commercial activity.
Founded by His Royal Highness Prince William in 2020, The Earthshot Prize selects 15 finalists globally each year across five environmental categories. Three finalists compete in each category, with one winner from every Earthshot receiving £1 million.
The five winners will be announced in Mumbai on November 17, 2026, when India hosts The Earthshot Prize Summit and Awards for the first time.
More than 4 lakh Mahindra EVs on the road
Mahindra Last Mile Mobility said it has sold more than 4 lakh electric vehicles, which have collectively travelled over 9 billion kilometres.
According to the company, the vehicles have helped avoid approximately 185,000 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions.
The company’s electric three-wheelers and small commercial vehicles are primarily used as working vehicles by drivers, shopkeepers, delivery partners and small businesses. Mahindra says lower operating costs from electric vehicles can improve earning potential for owners while also reducing tailpipe emissions in cities.
In a segment where every rupee saved on fuel can matter to the person behind the wheel, economics and emissions increasingly find themselves travelling in the same direction.
Mahindra has also developed support programmes around its electric mobility business. Its UDAY NXT initiative offers benefits including driver accidental insurance and financial counselling for owner-drivers and their families.
‘Cleaner mobility, customer prosperity and scale can go together’
Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director & CEO – Auto & Farm Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. said, “Last-mile mobility can deliver environmental and social impact at scale. More than 4 lakh Mahindra electric vehicles on the road today are helping power 4 lakh livelihoods every day. For many of these customers, these vehicles are working assets that support their families and enable micro-entrepreneurship. Being named a Finalist for The Earthshot Prize recognises a model where cleaner mobility, customer prosperity and scale can go together, and strengthens our belief that solutions proven in India can have relevance across other markets.”
Suman Mishra, Managing Director & CEO, Mahindra Last Mile Mobility Limited, said, “For us, the impact of electric mobility is visible every day in the lives of the drivers and entrepreneurs who depend on these vehicles for their income. When electric becomes the better economic choice for the customer, cleaner mobility can grow much faster. We are seeing that combination of livelihood impact and environmental benefit at meaningful scale. The Earthshot Prize recognition encourages us to take this model further in India and beyond.”
India’s electric three-wheeler transition gains global attention
The growth of electric three-wheelers in India has increasingly attracted international attention, particularly because of their potential impact on both urban emissions and driver economics.
Ahead of the Earthshot finalist announcement, The Sunday Times, UK, reported from Lucknow on how electric autorickshaws were changing operating economics for drivers while reducing local emissions.
According to the report cited by Mahindra, savings from electric vehicle operation had contributed to higher household incomes and, in some cases, helped drivers build additional assets.
Prince William described Mahindra’s work as “a practical solution that is already working at scale and changing the way people move around their cities.”
Mahindra joins diverse group of global finalists
Mahindra Last Mile Mobility is part of a diverse group of 15 finalists selected for the 2026 Earthshot Prize.
Other finalists include Ørsted, Mahila Housing Trust, AirQo, Satellites on Fire, Pula, the City of Barcelona, Bhutan, Indigenous Desert Alliance, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, Zero Emission Maritime Buyers Alliance (ZEMBA), Niue Ocean Wide Trust, PFAS-Free France, South Korea Zero Waste Movement Network and Mother Earth Foundation.
The finalists span areas including clean air, climate action, biodiversity, waste reduction and ocean protection.
For Mahindra Last Mile Mobility, the recognition places India’s rapidly expanding electric three-wheeler market on a global environmental platform. It also highlights a broader test for electric mobility: whether cleaner transport can succeed not simply because it is environmentally preferable, but because it makes economic sense for the people who depend on their vehicles for a living.
The five category winners will be announced at The Earthshot Prize Awards Night in Mumbai on November 17, 2026.
