From EV skeptic to true believer—this experience flipped the switch. Looking forward to many such events
BHPIAN JAGUAR recently shared this with other enthusiasts:
About the event
I primarily signed up for the event as a great excuse to meet fellow BHPians from across the country and finally put faces to the handles we’ve long admired. Remarkably, everyone gelled like old friends, and honestly, we could’ve gone on chatting for another two days straight. It was truly heartwarming when @Aditya remembered me from our brief encounter back in 2007 at the Bangalore Auto Expo. Since others have already shared detailed reports of the event, I’ll keep this brief and focus on my takeaways.
Day 1 and 2 Highlights
Right from the get-go, full credit to the organising teams from both Mahindra and Team-BHP for pulling off such a well-executed event on short notice. Every minute was tightly planned, and not once did it feel like we were waiting around or losing time. The agenda struck a perfect balance—no tedious presentations, but in-depth and engaging enough to delight the enthusiast in all of us. A definite highlight of Day One was the candid interaction with Mr. Veluswami and the leadership team. Their patience in answering our questions and openness to feedback truly inspired confidence in Mahindra as a brand. It felt less like a corporate session and more like a chat among fellow petrolheads. This same passion was evident in every engineer and researcher we met during the event. Huge appreciation to all of them for giving up their weekend.
Day Two kicked off with a drive to MSPT, with attendees choosing between the BE.6 and the XUV 9e. A few of us had to skip the drive since we came in our vehicles and didn’t want the logistical hassle of returning to the hotel later. But as it turned out, my very first EV driving experience would happen on none other than Mahindra’s high-speed test track. More on that in a bit.
I had previously visited MSPT in 2022 for the Mahindra Adventure Thar event and got a glimpse of the facility then. But the transformation since then has been extraordinary. In under two years, Mahindra has turned the space into a world-class test and research facility comprising a crash test lab, cell research centre, and vehicle dynamics lab, among others. It’s a strong signal that Mahindra is serious about the long game. What’s even more impressive is that the facility is open to other manufacturers—something that could significantly shape the future of the Indian automotive industry. Excited for the future.
Now to the driving experience—until this event, my only exposure to EVs was from the back seat. I had gone through reviews on both the XUV 9e and the BE.6 to get a sense of what to expect before the event. The 9e appeared to be the more practical option, and many recommended it over the BE.6. So naturally, I picked the 9e for my first spin on the track. But Mahindra, being the thoughtful hosts they are, ensured we got to drive both cars. On track, the BE.6 was a revelation. The more compact of the two, it felt agile and responsive, and its sporty seats hug you in place while tearing through the high-speed banked track. Though we were advised to cap it at 140, the car’s composure masked those speeds very well, and we ended up hitting higher speeds. Unsurprisingly, the BE.6 quickly became my favourite of the two. I have a hunch that the XUV 9e might eventually evolve into something like an XUV700 EV, while the BE.6 carves out its own identity. Once you get past the loud, quirky design—especially in that poster orange—the darker shades of the BE.6 actually look quite elegant, and I believe they’ll age gracefully.
Later, DBHPian @dhanushs and team curated a fantastic off-road experience on their dedicated track. Since I’d already tried it before in a 3-door Thar, I opted to ride shotgun in the Roxx, which led the convoy. This gave me a great chance to chat with the lead engineer and get a first-hand demo of the new tech loaded into the Roxx.
From EV skeptic to true believer—this experience flipped the switch. Looking forward to many such events.
Where it all started
And the future
PS: Call it cognitive bias or a sign, we came across an EV truck on the drive back 
Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
