Mahindra 1949

India

India's first prime minister in Mahindra Jeep.

The birth of Mahindra & Mahindra began when K.C. Mahindra visited the United States of America as Chairman of the India Supply Mission. He met Barney Roos, inventor of the rugged 'general purpose vehicle' or Jeep and had a flash of inspiration: wouldn't a vehicle that had proved its invincibility on the battlefields of World War II be ideal for India's rugged terrain and its kutcha rural roads? Swift action followed thought. The Mahindra brothers joined hands with a distinguished gentleman called Ghulam Mohammed. And, on October 2nd, 1945, Mahindra & Mohammed was set up as a franchise for assembling Jeeps from Willys, USA.
Two years later, India became an independent nation and Mahindra & Mohammed changed its name to Mahindra & Mahindra. Ghulam Mohammed migrated to Pakistan post-partition and became the first Finance Minister of Pakistan.

1948: The Company was renamed Mahindra & Mahindra Limited (M&M). Steel trading business commenced, in association with suppliers in UK.

1949: Jeep assembly commenced.

3^rd of June – the first Willys Jeep boult in India by M&M Ltd at the Assembly Plant, Mazagoan, Bombay.