The brand sold a combined 3 306 vehicles in the first quarter of 2022, breaking through the 1 000-unit-per-month barrier for three consecutive months and setting an overall sales record for its financial year, which ended in March.

With these record months, and following a successful fourth quarter in 2021, Mahindra ended its financial year as one of the fastest-growing volume brands in South Africa as per the industry figures published by naamsa, the industry business council.

Mahindra ended its financial year with 12-month sales of 8 525 units. This is 37.4% better than in 2021.

“Over the past 18 years, we have worked hard to lay a solid foundation in South Africa. This included selecting, investing in and training the right network of dealers and making sure our products meet the high standards of South African customers and local conditions,” says Rajesh Gupta, CEO of Mahindra South Africa.

“While Mahindra has grown significantly since establishing an office in South Africa in 2004, we have really picked up momentum in the last five years. And despite the COVID-related disruptions and nagging stock shortages, we have outpaced the overall vehicle market ever since.”

Rajesh notes that while all of Mahindra’s product ranges are performing well, it is the bakkie models that are growing well ahead of the market.

In the 2022 financial year ended in March, Mahindra sold 6 070 Pik Up and Bolero models. This is a massive increase of 63% over the previous financial year.

With this significant increase in bakkie sales, Mahindra is one of the three fastest growing brands in the light commercial vehicle segment. It is also a top three seller in the single cab market and one of the three fastest growing brands in the double cab market.

“We realise that our sales are currently constrained by disruptions in the global supply of parts and electronic components and subsequent delays in production. We are working with our dealer network to keep waiting lists as short as possible and believe that we will be able to supply more stock and set new sales records in the coming months,” says Rajesh.

Mahindra’s success over the past five years is closely aligned with its accelerated investment programme in South Africa. In 2018, Mahindra took a bold step by establishing a vehicle assembly facility in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. This facility assembles the Pik Up range for local and regional markets and is currently running at capacity.

Since this major first step, Mahindra has moved into a new national head office in Centurion, Gauteng and created a high-tech new training facility for its dealers, their technicians and Mahindra’s own staff and opened a Special Fitment Centre, where it develops and fits special models such as the Mahindra KUV100 NXT #DARE.

In the past financial year, Mahindra ramped up its development even further with a new national parts warehouse in Gauteng, designed to serve its rapidly growing car parc and dealer network, and the group inaugurated its first of many Certified Pre-owned dealers. The new Certified Pre-owned network is specifically selected and trained to offer a range of pre-owned Mahindra models with a comprehensive service plan and extended warranty.

At a corporate level, Mahindra added its Mahindra tractor and farm equipment range of products to its stable. Mahindra is the world’s largest tractor brand by sales, and in South Africa it offers an industry-beating 3-year / 3 000-hour mechanical warranty and a 3-working day support promise to farmers.

“Looking at the rest of the year, we cannot wait to share our newest models with our South African Mahindra family.

“Mahindra has long been associated with great value and durable products. With new models such as the recently upgraded XUV300, the upcoming XUV700 flagship and later a new Mahindra Scorpio, we will also introduce a new level of luxury and technology for our customers and South African motorists in general.”