Mahindra’s Fusion Fest ready to blast off

The Mahindra Fusion Fest event celebrates the youthful energy of the ‘Vibrant Rainbow Nation’ through music, fashion and art by fusing music, fashion and art into a high-energy production in front of over 7 000 people.

“Consider a crossover performance between Cassper Nyovest, Radio Kalahari Orkes and the opera artist Zandile Mzazi. Or a fusion of different genres in the combination of Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse, Aymos and Kamo Mphela on one stage together. And there is so much more from Sjava, Matthew Mole, Tarryn Lamb, Mi Casa, Young Stunna and KO,” says Rajesh Gupta, CEO of Mahindra South Africa.

Another star that is booked and ready for the show is the all-new Mahindra XUV 3XO. This compact SUV is the canvas for many of the creative fashion and art projects that have been undertaken prior to the show and that will be revealed on the night.

“For two decades, Mahindra has been a name synonymous with toughness, capability and reliability, built on the strength of its rugged bakkies and SUVs. In recent years, with the introduction of award-winning models such as the XUV700 and Scorpio-N, Mahindra has redefined expectations, bringing together advanced technology, performance and modern design to cater to a fast-changing audience.

“We are very excited about the Mahindra Fusion Fest taking place on 22 February, and as we celebrate 20 years in South Africa, Fusion Fest is more than just a festival; it’s a symbol of our journey and our deep-rooted commitment to this incredible nation,” says Rajesh.

This approach to life resonates not only in South Africa but also in India, where Mahindra is headquartered. In fact, the concept of Ubuntu – a guiding theme for the event and the multiple charitable causes that will benefit from the income of the event – is very similar to that of the Indian concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which sees the world as one family.

South Africa is a second home for Mahindra. The group has grown from a humble beginning in 2004 to one of the fastest-growing brands in the automotive market. In the last seven years, Mahindra has not only been one of the top-growing auto brands but the fastest-growing brand overall in 2019 and 2022, according to the manufacturer.

In the past year, Mahindra has shown its mettle by outperforming the general market and exceeding all sales targets, especially in the segments for bakkies (the locally assembled Pik Up) and compact SUVs, with the new XUV 3XO. The XUV 3XO has not only been a top-performing vehicle for Mahindra South Africa, but it has been singled out as one of the finalists for the 2025 South African Car of the Year competition.

In January 2025, Mahindra emerged as the brand with the largest jump in sales and thus the best start to the year. It also entered the South African Top 10 vehicle manufacturers’ list as the ninth best-selling brand overall.

On Saturday, one lucky attendee will drive away in a brand-new XUV 3XO, while several aspiring artists (in music, fashion and art) will not only have an opportunity to perform next to their heroes but also leave the event with a pre-paid recording session, a bursary, or a donation, in the case of specially selected charities.