Will Mahindra Scorpio Drive Into PM Office?

[Surfer]

Will it be a 'swadeshi' run on the home-made Mahindra Scorpio for Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi or will he switch over to the German BMWs, designated vehicles for the country's top leader? Scorpio, long used by Modi as his official vehicle including during his victory laps post the election results, now wants to follow him into the coveted 7 Race Course Road address, or the PM House.

Anand Mahindra, chairman of the Mahindra Group, has expressed his desire that the bonding continues. "It will be a matter of pride for us and for the whole nation if our new PM continues to make the India-made Scorpio his vehicle of choice," Mahindra told TOI as the company looks to make the required security upgrades to Scorpio to meet the PM's security cover.

Thrilled at the possibility, the company says that it would make suitable upgrades to the vehicle in line with the stringent requirements of the security apparatus mandated for the Prime Minister. "We would like to see him continue on a Scorpio. We need to have a dialogue with the SPG to understand the security apparatus and requirements," says Pawan Goenka, president of Mahindra & Mahindra's automotive division.

Source : Will Scorpio drive into PMO on Modi wave? - The Times of India

 

[draneeshpm]

Re: Will Scorpio drive into PMO

Why not the XUV? Can't it be altered to the specifications needed by SPG?

 

[Iron Rock]

Re: Will Scorpio drive into PMO

I was thinking the same over several days being an avid follower, he used Safaris and Scorpio all through his campaign and what a sight it was !

His strategist used a Pajero sport though

It will be nice for a change to see a reinforced cavalry of safaris and scorpios!

 

[vm2011]

Armoured BMW 7-Series is the official car of the PM.

Thread could be closed!

Narendra Modi Ditches Mahindra Scorpio for an Armoured BMW 7-Series - News

 

[350Z]

Here's a quote from Anand Mahindra expressing his pride.


​

Drive Safe,
350Z

 

[vm2011]

Here's a quote from Anand Mahindra expressing his pride.​

That was for his swearing-in ceremony, he was driven to Rashtrapati Bhawan in his armoured Scorpio.

But now the official vehicle is the Armoured BMW 7-Series !

The 7 Series in question here is specifically kitted out for the serving Prime Minister (Mr. Modi, in this case), and is known to be the safest vehicle in the country. It can protect its occupants from everything ranging from bombs to advanced rifle fires. The vehicle can also run on flat tyres for miles and has advanced heat sensors to debar bombs and missiles. Moreover, the fuel tank of the vehicle doesn't explode even when the car comes under attack and is fired upon, or set explosives to. The cabin turns into a gas proof chamber in case of a gas attack.

The car given to Mr. Modi is the 760Li High Security edition that visually looks similar to the 745Li. BMW considers this to be a key factor, as many customers give great importance to 'discretion and anonymity'. This model meets highest available ballistic protection class B6/B7 - reason why it is among leading security vehicles globally for individuals with top security needs.
But the Prime Minister's 760Li High Security edition isn't just another of the many examples that run around the globe. This one has been given higher level of security than the regular High Security edition.
To train drivers of these specially crafted cars, BMW, under its 'Training for Professionals' course, teaches the ways of vehicle control in extreme conditions. Under the guidance of highly experienced instructors in the security field, drivers are trained extremely sophisticated escape manoeuvres such as the slalom in reverse and the tactical turn in double formation.

Source:NDTV article

 

[vm2011]

Here is the official car as posted in TOI FB.

 

[350Z]

That was for his swearing-in ceremony, he was driven to Rashtrapati Bhawan in his armoured Scorpio. But now the official vehicle is the Armoured BMW 7-Series !

Apparently, Anand Mahindra had earlier written to our new prime minister requesting him to use Scorpio instead of BMW 7-Series. Quoting an excerpt from MoneyControl:

It is well known fact that Narendra Modi travels mostly in a Scorpio. Even yesterday, while the heads of other states stepped out from fancy Mercedes Benz cars, Narendra Modi was driven inside the Rashtrapati Bhavan in the Scorpio. Sensing an opportunity there, M&M's Anand Mahindra on May 22 wrote to the then PM-designate requesting him to make Scorpio the official car of the PM.

According to sources, Mahindra invoked principle of swadeshi saying that Scorpio is a full blown Indian car manufactured in India with Indian technology and therefore, he was hoping that Modi would prefer an Indian vehicle over a German manufactured vehicle, the BMW.

The move is important because Scorpio or all SUVs including Scorpios in United Progressive Alliance (UPA) - II term were seen as gas guzzling vehicles and now if India has a Prime Minister who is driving into a Scorpio, it will be quite the coup both from the marketing perspective and will catapult M&M to the next league.

Mahindra mentioned to Modi that whatever changes would be required to meet the special protection group (SPG) requirements, M&M will give all of that. A response from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is awaited.

Drive Safe,
350Z