It is no secret that the South Korean car manufacturer was literally pulled out of sinking by Indian automobile giant Mahindra & Mahindra. However, by early last year Mahindra didn’t mince words when the company said it was looking for investors in the brand. With uncertainty over the financial stability of the brand, SsangYong had hastened the plans to launch the bulky but electric SUV J100.
The tease sketches showed a bulky and box like body fort the new J100. It will be an electric vehicle and the aggressive design shows that the vehicle is targeted at the young and daring segment of the market. Apart from the previously unveiled E-100 SUV Korando e-motion, J100 is expected to widen the reach of the brand in the Indian subcontinent. Interestingly, J100 will be positioned above the E-100 & below the Rexton SUV.
On the exterior it looks stunning with the trapezoidal wheel arch, sleek grilles on the front and well positioned bumpers. The futuristic headlights and tail lights make the SUV look straight out of a science fiction movie. Continuing with the mystery, the real power train behind the J100 is yet to be revealed. However, speculations are that it will house the MESMA or the Mahindra Electric Scalable Matrix Architecture. It could have the 61.5 kWh Lithium-ion battery with a 190 Hp motor.
We can expect the launch of the SUV in early 2022. The South Korean brand is looking for new investors and the successive and successful launches of a couple of electric SUV in the market will only make the brand more attractive for the potential investors. It is to be noted that Mahindra & Mahindra holds a controlling share of 75% in the company.
With the reduction of the impact of COVID19 pandemic around the world, investors might take a liking to the portfolio of the ailing South Korean brand. The accelerated launch of these models will certainly help the brand get investors on board while it expands the footprint in the Indian automobile market. However, the market for the SUV segment is already getting crowded with the entry of more and more new players. What do you think about the stylish tease of the J100?
