The country’s largest SUV maker has begun 2026 with a technological statement. Mahindra has launched the XUV 7XO, introducing what it claims is the world’s first suspension system equipped with DaVinci
damping technology, an innovation designed to dramatically improve ride comfort on rough terrain and enhance off-roading capability.
The breakthrough has drawn high praise from Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra, who took to social media platform X to publicly acknowledge the team behind the innovation. Sharing photographs with the engineers, Mahindra wrote that the development was more than just a morale booster, said that the was not just his “#MondayMotivation” but his “constant inspiration”.
In his post, Anand Mahindra said the DaVinci damping suspension has been introduced for the first time globally in the newly launched XUV 7XO. He noted that the excitement among the engineers was palpable as they demonstrated the technology themselves.
The team behind the innovation is led by Velusamy R, popularly known within the company as “Velu Guru”, who was appointed president of Mahindra’s automotive business last year. Anand Mahindra traced Velusamy’s journey from a government school in Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, to earning a BTech in automotive engineering from Anna University. He joined Mahindra as a junior engineer and rose through the ranks to head technology and product development.
Reflecting on the larger significance of the achievement, Anand Mahindra said India is now producing engineers capable of competing with the best globally. He highlighted Mahindra Research Valley and the company’s expansive R&D ecosystem, which employs thousands of professionals “eager to learn and lead”.
Meet Velu.
He and his team have just introduced the world’s first suspension featuring DaVinci damping technology in the new Mahindra XUV 7XO
As you can see, he can’t conceal his excitement to demonstrate it personally.
Velu, or "Velu Guru” as we affectionately call him,… pic.twitter.com/tfbkJbLryO
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) January 19, 2026
Recalling advice given to companies during economic liberalisation in 1991, Mahindra wrote that global consultants had urged domestic firms to “give up” in the face of international competition. “We didn’t listen,” he said, adding that the company continues to learn, evolve and deliver world-class technology. “We’re still here, still learning, and still committed. There’s much more to come.”
Technically, DaVinci damping represents an evolution from the frequency-dependent damping systems Mahindra has used earlier. Functioning like an advanced shock absorber, the new suspension adapts more intelligently to road conditions. The company has demonstrated that the system is so effective that even when a vehicle passes over a speed breaker, water kept in a glass inside the cabin does not spill—a visual indicator of the suspension’s stability.
