IndiGo Takes Mahindra To Court Over ‘6e’ In Name Of New Electric SUV

InterGlobe Aviation Ltd., which operates India’s largest airline IndiGo, has taken Mahindra Electric Automobile Ltd. to the Delhi HIgh Court over the use of ‘6e’ in the name of its latest electric SUV.

The trademark infringement lawsuit came up before a single-judge bench on Tuesday, but the judge recused himself from the hearing. IndiGo’s counsel informed the high court that Mahindra had reached out to the airline to address the issue. The case, according to Bar & Bench, will be heard on Dec. 9.

On Nov. 26, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. unveiled its first “electric origin” SUVs—the BE 6e and XEV 9e—to the media, investors and dealers. Just a day earlier, on Nov. 25, the Registrar of Trademarks accepted Mahindra Electric’s request to register the word mark ‘BE 6e’. If registered, Mahindra Electric will be permitted to use ‘6e’ for a wide range of motor vehicles and related components.

The company, in a statement, said it "does not see a conflict as Mahindra’s mark is ‘BE 6e’, not the standalone ‘6E’.”

“It differs fundamentally from IndiGo’s ‘6E’, which represents an airline, eliminating any risk of confusion. The distinct styling further emphasises their uniqueness," it added.

IndiGo, however, was unimpressed. The airline said in a statement that the ‘6E’ mark is an integral part of its identity for the past 18 years and a registered trademark that holds strong global recognition.

“Any unauthorised use of the ‘6E’ mark, whether standalone or in any form, constitutes an infringement of IndiGo’s rights, reputation and goodwill,” the statement read. “IndiGo is committed to taking all necessary and appropriate steps to safeguard its intellectual property and brand identity.”

IndiGo received the ‘6e’ code from International Air Transport Association as an official callsign and uses it for branding various in-flight services, including food and beverage, web check-in and premium experience. 

“We’ve taken on board the concerns that InterGlobe Aviation Ltd. have to infringement of their goodwill, which was not our intention,” Mahindra said in the statement. “We are engaged in discussions with them to find an amicable solution.”

To be sure, this isn’t the first trademark issue that M&M has faced of late.

In 2023, the Indian automaker won a case against Fiat Chrysler’s Jeep to produce, sell and distribute the post-2020 Roxor in the United States. Jeep had in a 2019 lawsuit alleged that the Roxor copied components that were trademark-protected by Jeep.

On Tuesday, M&M shares rose 0.33% to Rs 3,026.20 apiece on the BSE, compared to 0.74% climb in the benchmark Sensex.