Narendra Modi prefers using the Mahindra Scorpio

Will it be a 'swadeshi' run on the homemade Mahindra Scorpio for Prime Minister Narendra Modi or will he switch over to the German BMWs, designated vehicles for the country's top leader? Scorpio, long used by Modi as his official vehicle including during his victory laps post the election results, now wants to follow him into the coveted 7 Race Course Road address, or the PM House.

Anand Mahindra, chairman of the Mahindra Group, has expressed his desire that the bonding continues. "It will be a matter of pride for us and for the whole nation if our new PM continues to make the India-made Scorpio his vehicle of choice," Mahindra told TOI as the company looks to make the required security upgrades to Scorpio to meet the PM's security cover.

Thrilled at the possibility, the company says that it would make suitable upgrades to the vehicle in line with the stringent requirements of the security apparatus mandated for the Prime Minister. "We would like to see him continue on a Scorpio. We need to have a dialogue with the SPG to understand the security apparatus and requirements," says Pawan Goenka, president of Mahindra & Mahindra's automotive division.

While the Ambassador had been the official car for the Prime Minister for a long time, the switchover to BMW happened around 2003 during the tenure of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Increased threat perception from terrorist organizations and availability of highly-specialized armored vehicles prompted the establishment to opt for the German brand, with each of the vehicle costing several crores of rupees. The current fleet of the Prime Minister is understood to have more than half-a-dozen BMW 760Li high-security limousines (some are used as decoy vehicles), while having around a dozen BMW X5 SUVs that are used by the SPG.

These vehicles offer high-level of sophistication and guard against attacks from heavy-caliber ammunition and explosives. The optimized armour plates are made from an incredibly strong special steel, and fit the bodywork of the car like a second skin. The entire interior is sheathed in an innovative combination of materials that forms an impenetrable second skin. Among the numerous safety features are run-flat tyres, a self-sealing fuel tank, an attack alarm and an intercom system, which enables the occupants to communicate with the outside world without leaving the vehicle or opening the doors or windows.

Modi's current fleet comprises a number of bullet-proof Scorpio vehicles, and these too carry an elaborate security apparatus in line with the threat perception and his high-profile status. "We are capable of upgrading the vehicle to whatever standards that may be sought, including having a more powerful engine on board as well as other security needs," Goenka says.