Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) is targeting the under-3.5-tonne small commercial vehicle (SCV) segment with the launch of the Veero, developed on its Urban Prosper Platform (UPP). The Veero will offer multi-fuel options, including diesel and CNG, with an electric variant planned for the future.

The Veero is priced at ?7.99 lakh for the entry-level model. M&M has ambitious plans to expand its light commercial vehicle (LCV) portfolio, with plans to introduce seven new models by 2030, all addressing intra-city logistics needs.

Nalinikanth Gollagunta, CEO of M&M's automotive division, stated that UPP is a modular platform engineered to handle payloads of 1-2 tonnes across multiple deck lengths and powertrain configurations. The company has invested ?900 crore in developing the platform and the Veero, with additional investments anticipated as production scales up.

M&M aims to enhance total cost of ownership, comfort, and performance, focusing on the intra-city market where it has traditionally been strong in inter-city operations. Gollagunta noted that while diesel and CNG have proven viability, the demand for electric vehicles (EVs) could grow due to ESG mandates from e-commerce companies.

Currently, M&M holds a market share of over 50% in the less-than-3.5-tonne segment and expects to increase this share as it taps into the intra-city market. Despite a recent decline in sales, with 2,957 units sold under 2 tonnes in August and 14,661 units in the 2-3.5-tonne category, M&M received positive feedback during a month-long market test of the Veero.