On Sunday, Anand Mahindra, Chairman of the Mahindra Group, garnered praise for his respectful and insightful response to a critical post about his company’s vehicles and employee behavior. He shared a screenshot of a post by Sushant Mehta, who had criticized the design of the Mahindra BE6e EV, referring to it as “ajooba” and expressed hopes that Mahindra and Tata could compete with global players like Maruti and Hyundai.
Mahindra addressed the criticism by acknowledging it and saying, “We have turned all the surrounding cynicism, skepticism, and even rudeness into fuel for our drive to succeed.” While recognizing that the company still has a long way to go, he also pointed out how much progress has been made.
Recalling his own journey with Mahindra since 1991, Mahindra shared that a global consulting firm had once advised them to exit the car business, believing there was no way they could compete with foreign brands entering India. “Three decades later, we are still here and competing fiercely,” he remarked.
Mahindra also referenced Robert Frost’s Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening, emphasizing that the company remains committed to continuous improvement: “Yes, we have miles to go before we sleep.”
After Mahindra’s post, Mehta explained that he had deleted his original criticism after receiving a call from Mahindra’s marketing team, inquiring if he owned a Mahindra vehicle. In his response to Mahindra, Mehta said he removed the tweet because he felt the company might be upset with his strong words.
Mahindra’s reaction was widely appreciated online, with users praising his positivity and leadership. One user remarked, “That’s a top-notch response with so much positivity,” while another highlighted Mahindra’s ability to lead with grit and vision, applauding the company’s vehicles for being an essential part of both rural and urban India.
