On Sunday, December 1, Anand Mahindra, Chairman of the Mahindra Group, received widespread praise on social media for his “top-notch” response to criticism posted on platform X. The criticism, directed at the company, highlighted issues with the quality of Mahindra vehicles and employee behavior.
Mahindra shared a screenshot of a post by Sushant Mehta, who criticized the design of the newly launched Mahindra BE6e EV model, calling it “ajooba.” Mehta also expressed hope that Mahindra and Tata could become the new Maruti and Hyundai for the global market.
In his response, Mahindra expressed gratitude, stating,
“We have used all the surrounding cynicism, skepticism—and even rudeness, as in your post—to fuel our hunger to succeed.” He acknowledged the criticism, saying, “You’re right, Sushant. We have a long way to go. But please consider how far we have come.”
Mahindra also reflected on his journey with the company since 1991 when India opened its economy to the world.
He recalled how a global consulting firm had advised Mahindra to exit the car business, claiming they had no chance of competing with foreign brands. He proudly noted,
“Three decades later, we are still around and competing fiercely.”
He also quoted a line from Robert Frost’s Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening, saying,
“Yes, we have miles to go before we sleep. There is no room for complacency, and continuous improvement will continue to be our mantra.” He ended by thanking the critic, saying, “Thank you for feeding the fire in our bellies.”
This post followed Sushant Mehta’s original criticism, which he later deleted after Mahindra’s marketing team allegedly reached out to ask if he owned a Mahindra car. Mehta explained that he deleted the post due to concerns over the company’s dissatisfaction with his harsh words.
In response to Mahindra’s post, Mehta expressed his appreciation for the constructive way Mahindra handled the criticism. Netizens were quick to commend Mahindra’s positive and motivational response. One user, Bipindra NC, called it a “top-notch response,” admiring Mahindra’s positivity and mindset. Another user praised Mahindra’s leadership, saying,
“What a heart-warming reply Anand ji. India needs to support such level-headed proprietors and brands with grit and iron will.
Have a look at the conversation:
You’re right, Sushant.
We have a long way to go.
But please consider how far we have come.
When I joined the company in 1991, the economy had just been opened up.
A global consulting firm strongly advised us to exit the car business since we had no chance, in their view, of… pic.twitter.com/xinxlBcGuV
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) December 1, 2024
I deleted the mahindra tweet which I expressed my views about advising anand mahindra ji about my ranting on their product experience during my research, my views about looks, sorting basic niggles and customer experiences first, observed during my research after booking one last…
— Sushant Mehta (@SkyBarrister) December 1, 2024
Some users even shared their loyalty to Mahindra and Tata, expressing their belief that Mahindra vehicles are safer than those of Maruti and Hyundai.
This exchange has sparked widespread admiration for Mahindra’s leadership and the company’s journey over the past three decades.
