National Aerospace Labs inks pact with M&M

BENGALURU, February 09, 2007: Mahindra & Mahindra signed an agreement for the design and development of a new General Aviation Aircraft between National Aerospace Laboratories, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India in keeping with the current thrust of public private partnership.

Mahindra & Mahindra derives its aerospace competencies from Plexion Technologies, which it acquired in 2005. Plexion is part of the Mahindra Engineering Services arm of the Systems and Technologies Sector, India's foremost fully integrated 'design to delivery' automotive component supplier.

The aircraft is being designed and developed to perform a variety of missions, including 4 to 5 passenger transport, cargo operations, air taxi, etc. A combination of state-of-the-art composite technology as well as advanced sheet metal fabrication techniques are proposed to be used. It will be contemporary in design with advanced cockpit and comprehensive safety features which include energy absorbing seats and lightening protection. Yet another unique feature is the integration of a number of indigenous components and proven systems and technologies.

During the design and development phase, a combined technical team from both the organizations would be jointly involved followed by design validation and testing using the extensive facilities of National Aerospace Laboratories.

The developmental phase is scheduled to be 36 months followed by certification for FAR-23 standards both within India and internationally.

About Systech

In today's increasingly competitive automotive industry, global OEMs must compete on every front, from quality to cost, while maintaining profitability. Quality components at a value price provide a major strategic advantage. Identifying this tremendous opportunity, Mahindra Systems and Technologies (Systech) fuses its innate domain knowledge with India's manufacturing base and large, talented labor supply to create the world's first fully integrated "Design to Delivery" automotive component supplier. Systech consists of three business units -- Mahindra Engineering Services, Strategic Sourcing, and Auto Components. Systech is one of the six diversified business units of the US $4* billion Mahindra Group.

About The Mahindra Group

The US $4 billion* Mahindra Group is among the top 10 industrial houses in India. Mahindra & Mahindra is the only Indian company among the top five tractor manufacturers in the world and is the market leader in multi-utility vehicles in India. The Group has a leading presence in key sectors of the Indian economy, including trade and financial services (Mahindra Intertrade, Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Ltd.), automotive components, information technology & telecom (Tech Mahindra, Bristlecone), and infrastructure development (Mahindra GESCO, Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Ltd., Mahindra World City). With over 60 years of manufacturing experience, the Mahindra Group has built a strong base in technology, engineering, marketing and distribution which are key in its evolution as a customer-centric organization. The Group employs over 40,000 people and has several state-of-the-art facilities in India and overseas. The Mahindra Group has ambitious global aspirations and has a presence in five continent.

Mahindra products are today available in every continent except Antarctica. M&M has one tractor manufacturing plant in China and three assembly plants in the United States. It has made strategic acquisitions across the globe including Stokes Forgings (UK), Jeco Holding AG (Germany) and Schoneweiss & Co GmbH (Germany). Its global subsidiaries include Mahindra Europe Srl. based in Italy, Mahindra USA Inc. and Mahindra South Africa. M&M has entered into partnerships with international companies like Renault SA, France, and International Truck and Engine Corporation, USA. Forbes has ranked the Mahindra Group in its Top 200 list of the World's Most Reputable Companies and in the Top 10 list of Most Reputable Indian companies.