From conversational artificial intelligence (AI) to personalised settings and extra driving range, Mahindra is preparing to turn its existing electric SUVs into software-defined cars.
Buying an electric car may soon become less about what it can do on the day you drive it and more about what it can learn and add later.
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| Mahindra BE 6 EV may soon become a tailor-made car. |
Mahindra is taking that approach with its electric SUV range.
Starting January 2027, the automaker will roll out a series of new software features, including Google Gemini-powered AI, to existing BE 6, XEV 9e and XEV 9S models through over-the-air (OTA) updates.
In other words, some Mahindra EV owners will not need to buy a newer model to access the company’s latest software features.
Google Gemini will make Mahindra EVs more conversational
The headline feature is TEQ_Talk, Mahindra’s conversational in-car assistant developed around its Mahindra Artificial Intelligence Architecture (MAIA) platform and Google’s Gemini technology.
The system is already available on the newer BE 6 SPORTEQ and is designed to understand more natural requests rather than requiring drivers to remember specific voice commands.
Mahindra says TEQ Talk uses 17 specialised AI agents and supports more than 100 core functions and 48 applications, spanning navigation, entertainment, vehicle controls and general information.
That means a driver could simply ask the car to make the cabin cooler instead of navigating through multiple menus or using a predefined command.
The technology was developed with Google Cloud, with Mahindra positioning Gemini-powered TEQ_Talk as a more flexible and conversational alternative to conventional voice assistants.
AI won't be the only upgrade
The OTA update will bring more than just Google Gemini to Mahindra EVs.
TEQ_Me can recognise a user’s profile and automatically adjust several settings, including the seat, mirrors, climate control, infotainment system, head-up display and drive modes.
TEQ_Secure focuses on connected-car features.
Through the Me4U app, users can access functions such as 360-degree camera and dashcam monitoring, audio relay and vehicle tracking.
Digital keys can also work across smartphones, smartwatches and near field communication (NFC) cards, which are used to lock, unlock, and start modern electric SUVs.
Then, there is TEQ_Drive, which introduces personalised driving settings and a drift mode.
Mahindra’s Revive feature could also prove useful when an EV is running critically low on charge.
The company says it can provide up to 13 km of additional range after the battery reaches zero, potentially giving the driver enough distance to reach a charging station.
In an emergency, Revive SOS can provide up to another 11 km.
Your Mahindra EV could become an entertainment hub
Mahindra is also adding TEQ_Play, bringing features such as gaming with up to four Bluetooth controllers, karaoke, private audio and music-synchronised lighting.
The bigger story, however, is not any individual feature. It is the way these functions will reach customers.
Mahindra has confirmed that software introduced with the BE 6 SPORTEQ will begin rolling out to existing BE 6, XEV 9e and XEV 9S owners through OTA updates from January 2027.
The exact features available will depend on the vehicle and variant.
Mahindra’s approach points towards a broader shift in the EV industry gives birth to the software-defined vehicle.
E-Vroooom’s views
Is this the future of electric cars?
Traditionally, buying a car meant accepting most of its features as fixed until the next vehicle purchase.
OTA technology changes that equation. Automakers can add functions, improve existing systems and introduce new digital experiences years after the vehicle has left the showroom.
For Mahindra EV owners, the result could be significant: A car purchased today may not have the same capabilities a few years from now.
And, as AI becomes increasingly embedded in cars, the next big question for EV buyers may no longer be simply how much range their vehicle offers — but how smart it can become after they buy it.
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