Mahindra changes branding of electric SUV due to trademark dispute with IndiGo

Mahindra & Mahindra, one of the country’s largest automobile companies, has decided to temporarily change the name of its new electric SUV BE 6e to ‘BE 6’. InterGlobe Aviation, which runs IndiGo airline, had claimed the ‘6e’ trademark as its own and had filed a petition against Mahindra in the Delhi High Court earlier this week.

InterGlobe Aviation had said in this petition that ‘6E’ has been an important part of its identity and a registered trademark for the last 18 years. According to a statement given by the company, ‘Standalone or any other unauthorized use of 6E violates the rights, reputation and goodwill of IndiGo. IndiGo is committed to taking all necessary and appropriate steps to protect its intellectual property and brand identity. The next hearing of this case is to be held on December 9.

A statement given by Mahindra in this regard said, “The company’s BE 6e market is not a standalone 6E. We believe that it is different from IndiGo’s 6E, which represents an airline. Our registration The application is for a completely different industry and product and hence we do not see any conflict.” Mahindra also said, “We find it wrong for two big companies to get involved in an unnecessary conflict.” Recently, the company’s electric vehicle (EV) XUV400 has received a five-star safety rating in the Bharat New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). The XUV400 has achieved a score of 30.38 points out of 32 points in Adult Occupancy Protection. Apart from this, this EV has got 43 points out of 49 points in child vehicle protection.

However, before this Indigo has also been accused of trademark infringement. Tata Motors had objected to InterGlobe Aviation’s use of the IndiGo mark. This was the mark of Tata Motors’ sedan. Tata’s Indigo was introduced in 2002 and started flights in 2006. IndiGo received the ‘6e’ code from the International Air Transport Association. This airline uses this mark for branding of in-flight services.