Mahindra History

Few groups can identify as closely with India's destiny and industrial progress as the Mahindra Group. In fact, Mahindra is like a microcosm of India. Both were born around the same time, had the same aspirations and both experienced the inevitable troughs and crests in the journey towards their goals. And both continue to march on the path to progress and global recognition.

The birth of Mahindra & Mahindra began when K.C. Mahindra visited the United States of America as Chairman of the India Supply Mission. He met Barney Roos, inventor of the rugged 'general purpose vehicle' or Jeep and had a flash of inspiration: wouldn't a vehicle that had proved its invincibility on the battlefields of World War II be ideal for India's rugged terrain and its kutcha rural roads?

Swift action followed this thought. The Mahindra brothers joined hands with a distinguished gentleman called Ghulam Mohammed & on October 2nd, 1945, Mahindra & Mohammed was set up as a franchise for assembling Jeeps from Willys, USA. Two years later, India became an independent nation and Mahindra & Mohammed changed its name to Mahindra & Mahindra. Ghulam Mohammed migrated to Pakistan post-partition and became the first Finance Minister of Pakistan.

Since then, Mahindra & Mahindra has grown steadily in size and stature and evolved into a Group that occupies a premier position in almost all key sectors of the economy. The Group's history is studded with milestones. Each one taking the Group forward. In fact, today, its total turnover is about 6.3 billion dollars.

Mahindra is a group in a hurry, engaged in an ambitious, sustained and prolonged penetration into the global arena. Its spirit can be encapsulated in the words of the poet Robert Frost, a favourite of India's first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru:

"The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep."

For Mahindra & Mahindra, this translates into many more milestones to be set up before it rests. If ever. Source: Mahindra