Mumbai: Mahindra & Mahindra has announced its decision to strongly defend the trademark rights of its electric SUV, ‘BE 6e’, in response to a lawsuit filed by InterGlobe Aviation, the operator of IndiGo airlines.
IndiGo claims the ‘6E’ in Mahindra’s branding conflicts with its trademark. However, Mahindra argues that ‘BE 6e’ is distinct, both in design and industry focus, as it represents an electric SUV, not an airline.
In a statement, Mahindra emphasized, “It’s unfortunate that two leading Indian companies are embroiled in such an avoidable dispute when we should be supporting each other’s growth.” To avoid confusion, Mahindra plans to rename the product ‘BE 6’ while maintaining its distinct identity.
The automaker also pointed out the inconsistency in IndiGo’s position, referencing a past trademark dispute with Tata Motors over the name ‘Indigo,’ which continues to coexist. Mahindra views IndiGo’s claim as “baseless” and warns against setting a dangerous precedent that could restrict branding across industries.
The case is scheduled for a hearing on December 9.
