Mahindra & Mahindra, which has earmarked a 400-acre land in Cheyyar (Tamil Nadu) for the group's projects, will start with a testing facility there. This will be followed by an automotive plant, according to a senior official of the company.

 “We are in the final phase of acquiring land for the testing facility, which will be ready in a year's time. We will also set up an auto plant, although there is no specific time-frame for that now,” said Dr Pawan Goenka, President – Automotive & Farm Equipment Sectors, Mahindra & Mahindra.

Mahindra has made an investment commitment of Rs 1,800 crore for the Cheyyar project over seven years. The first phase of land acquisition (around 150 acres) is complete and the second phase is on. The company is also in the process of shifting its R&D from existing centres in Chennai and Nasik to Mahindra World City, a special economic zone near Chennai. Already 750 people have been shifted. In full force, the SEZ will house around 1,500 people, said Dr Goenka. Around Rs 600 crore has been invested so far on this R&D facility.

Mahindra will launch the next edition of its electric vehicle (Reva NXR) by the end of the financial year.