Just a year ago, the company replaced the ageing G-Wiz (what we call the Reva) with the e2o. According to Reuters, Mahindra has stopped selling its e2o with immediate effect and cancelled all pending orders – it’s even buying back some cars.
Low sales volumes have made it unfeasible to maintain its UK operations, according to the Reuters report. The devaluation of the pound sterling has also had an impact on Mahindra's e2o sales.
Launched in April 2016, the UK edition of the e2o came in two trims. The top trim was fitted with an infotainment system, leather seats, airbags, ESP and inbuilt navigation with plotted charge points. The e2o’s 13.5kWh battery pack can put out 43hp and 91Nm, with a promised range of 127km. The UK Mahindra e2o was substantially more powerful than the India-spec model available at that time.
In the UK, Mahindra used online marketing and sales channels to sell the Mahindra e2o to save on costs. In fact, 90 percent of its vehicle’s maintenance was carried out at owners' homes. When launched, the e2o was one of the cheapest electric cars in the UK, and was substantially cheaper than the Teslas and BMWs. Each car was imported from the company’s plant in Bengaluru
In October 2016, the e2o was replaced in India with a four-door version, called the e2o Plus. Sales continue to be sluggish though mainly due to its high price and the lack of electric car infrastructure in India.