Mahindra XUV500 History

Launched in September 2011, the XUV500 was a watershed moment for Indian automotive design: the country's first monocoque (unibody) SUV from a domestic manufacturer. Mahindra spent ₹850 crore over four years developing it, and the result — with its cheetah-inspired styling, paw-shaped door handles, available all-wheel drive, and smartphone connectivity — looked and felt unlike anything Mahindra had made before.

The XUV500 became Mahindra's global calling card, exported to South Africa and briefly evaluated for Western markets. It sold strongly throughout the 2010s. When the more sophisticated XUV700 arrived in August 2021, the XUV500's production was wound down; it was discontinued in November 2021 after cumulative sales exceeding 250,000 units.