Mahindra Thar closes in on 200,000 sales as it turns 4 years old

The Mahindra Thar, which was launched on October 2, 2020 – Mahindra & Mahindra’s 75^th anniversary – has turned four years old today. The Thar, the successor to the iconic first-generation model introduced in 2010, has sold an estimated 190,323 units till end-August 2024. While September 2024 model-wise wholesale numbers are not yet out, it can be surmised that the 200,000 milestone wouldn’t be very far for this Mahindra model.

In the first five months of FY2025, the Thar has sold an estimated 25,939 units, averaging monthly sales of 5,187 units. It will surpass the 200,000 sales milestone by end-October 2024.

The current Thar, which is far less utilitarian than its predecessor but without diluting its core appeal, appeals to a much wider audience and this is reflected in its sales. As per industry wholesales data, the Thar sold 14,186 units in the last six months of FY2021, with the next fiscal’s sales jumping by 167% to 37,844 units in FY2022. While FY2023’s sales of 47,108 units were a 24% YoY increase, the Thar clocked its best-ever fiscal year dispatches in FY2024: 65,246 units, up 38.50% YoY. In the first five months of FY2025, the Thar has sold an estimated 25,939 units, up 4.96% YoY, and has averaged monthly sales of 5,187 units. 

Mahindra & Mahindra has three engines on offer for the Thar – the base 118hp, 300 Nm, 1.5-litre diesel engine mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox and in rear-wheel-drive guise, a 152hp, 300 Nm, 2.0-litre petrol and the 132hp, 300 Nm, 2.2-litre diesel engines. The 152hp and 130hp engines get the option of either a 6-speed manual or an automatic gearbox. Both petrol and diesel engines are available in 4WD and RWD configurations, albeit, in the RWD version there is only a petrol AT option, while the diesel is only offered in a 1.5-litre, MT configuration. The Thar 4X4 also sports an electronic brake locking differential instead of a mechanical locking differential, which offers better grip in low-traction situations.

The Mahindra Thar is currently available with 19 variants comprising 12 diesels and seven petrols. Pricing starts from Rs 14.13 lakh (on-road Mumbai) for the base 1.5D AX(O) RWD through to Rs 22.21 lakh for the top-end 2.2D LX AT Earth variant.

ADDING MUSCLE TO MAHINDRA  
That the new Thar would be a high-selling product for Mahindra & Mahindra was apparent, given that accumulated over 15,000 bookings within the first three weeks of launch and 75,000 bookings within a year.

Just a month after launch, the Mahindra Thar got a sales boost in the form of a 4-star Global NCAP crash safety rating. However, this rating is based on the old testing protocols, which was upgraded in July last year. Since then, M&M launched has the new 4X2 version of the Thar in January 2023, which looks identical to the 4WD model except for the lack of the 4x4 badge on the former. Currently, the sole rival to the three-door Thar in India is Force Motors’ Gurkha. And the recently launched Thar Roxx goes head to head with the five-door Force Gurkha launched in May 2024.

The Thar has seen a single recall till date. On February 4, 2021, M&M issued a voluntary recall for 2,649 units of the diesel-engined Thar, manufactured between September 7, 2020 and December 25, 2020, to inspect an engine camshaft which might have had an improper machining condition that has escaped quality check at the vendor's end and could have led to loss of drive to the fuel pump and in turn stalling.

What has clicked for the second-generation Thar is its direct appeal to off-roading aficionados while also luring a large number of buyers with its new ability to be deployed as an everyday SUV as a result of its modern interior and features, relatively easy driving manners and also automatic transmission options. Since the October 2020 launch, M&M has introduced new variants that have shed the 4x4 system and are RWD (rear-wheel drive) only. What enhanced the Thar’s market appeal is the small capacity 1497cc diesel engine, which has tax benefits and, thereby, reduced price.Thar and Thar Roxx: The two Mahindra Thar siblings will further expand the market as well reach out to a larger target audience.

Hunting in pairs: The Thar, which has recently been joned by the Thar Roxx, will further expand the market as well as reach out to a larger target audience.

THAR APPEAL GROWS WITH NEW THAR ROXX
With the launch of the Thar Roxx on September 25 with pricing starting from Rs 18.79 lakh, there is likely to be some level of cannibalisation in favour of the new five-door model compared to the existing three-door Thar, as also some other SUVs, albeit M&M believes that the two Thar siblings will further expand the market as well as appeal to a larger target audience. In view of the anticipated strong demand for the new Thar Roxx, the company has expanded manufacturing capacity for the model.

The Thar, whether three-door or five-door, is still powered by petrol and diesel engines. There’s a zero-emission avatar in the future Mahindra new product pipeline. Exactly a year ago, M&M unveiled the Thar.e concept which will use a modified version of Mahindra’s new INGLO dedicated EV platform and powered by the Volkswagen APP550 electric motor.

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