Agni Incorporated Pvt Ltd, established in 1991, is the authorized distributor of Mahindra utility vehicles and tractors. With iconic products like the Scorpio and Bolero plying the country’s terrains from east to west, and the plush Mahindra XUV 500 which outclasses many in its category, Mahindra’s presence in Nepal is helped by Agni’s extensive network comprising 45 dealers and branches across the country. Agni is also known for its robust after-sales service and highly trained manpower. Sijan Neupane, senior market manager for Agni Incorporated Pvt Ltd, talks to Sunny Mahat about Mahindra’s market presence and the upcoming Mahindra Udaya Festival.
Mahindra Udaya festival?
This is our first-ever lifestyle and auto show presented jointly by the Agni Incorporated, MV Dugar, Swaraj partners and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. In the event, we plan to display Mahindra’s range of world-class products, from two wheelers to passenger vehicles to trucks and buses to electric vehicles to tractors and diesel gensets. The event will also showcase Mahindra’s new range passenger vehicles— Marazzo, and XUV 300, the powerful compact SUV, for the first time in Nepal.
The event to be held at Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu from Feb 22 to 24 will not only display the 35-plus Mahindra products available in Nepal, but will also be a fun-filled affair for children and artists alike with food stalls, live musical performances and other entertainment activities. Not only do we want to display our products, but also create a pleasant experience for everyone attending.
In Mahindra Udaya, we plan to display Mahindra’s range of world-class products
Which Mahindra segment sells the most in Nepal?
The glamour and glitz of our SUVs make them the most highlighted among all Mahindra products. The Scorpio, Bolero and XUV 500 are some of the highest selling models and for their price, they are much superior to most competitors.
But does Mahindra lack market penetration at the entry level and the luxury passenger segments?
Mahindra’s DNA is based on SUVs. They are the biggest reason behind its success and we think we should continue capitalizing on our strength. Thus, hatchbacks and sedans are not in the company’s priority. But we do have the entry level KUV 100, which is doing well in the market.
For Mahindra, Scorpio, XUV500 and Bolero are the best-selling models in Nepal and despite being a niche product, the relatively newly launched Thar is also gaining in popularity.
The biggest fear in the auto sector, I think is, selling a wrong car to a wrong passenger which creates more negative word of mouth. So we, at Agni, do not focus much on push sales.
How is the market for Mahindra’s Electric Vehicles?
We have been rolling out the E2O models of electric vehicles after Mahindra acquired Reva, which already had a significant presence in Nepal. The E2O models come at prices starting at Rs 2 million, which is significantly cheaper than what was available earlier. Hence the sales of our EVs have increased tremendously. The demands for EVs have increased in India too and right now, we are getting sold out with every batch of import.
Does Mahindra plan on launching bigger and newer models of electric vehicles?
At present, many established manufacturers are producing electric vehicles. Mahindra is also taking part in this run towards more energy efficient vehicles. Mahindra is planning to launch the XUV 500 and KUV 100 in electric models. They will come to the market soon.
Sales wise, where do you sell the most vehicles in Nepal?
Kathmandu amounts to only 30-35 percent of our total sales. Our major chunk of sales is outside Kathmandu. Our strong network across the country helps us cater to all parts of Nepal.
