Mahindra Last Mile Mobility among 15 global finalists for The Earthshot Prize 2026
Mahindra Last Mile Mobility is the only Indian automotive company among 15 global finalists for The Earthshot Prize 2026, picked under the 'Clean Our Air' category.
- 4 lakh+
- 9 billion+
- ~185,000 metric tonnes
- £1 million
What Happened
Mahindra Last Mile Mobility Limited (MLMML) has been named the only Indian automotive company among the 15 global Finalists for The Earthshot Prize 2026, selected under the 'Clean Our Air' category for its work in electric last-mile transportation. The Prize, founded by HRH Prince William in 2020, identifies and supports solutions to pressing environmental challenges, selecting 15 Finalists globally each year across five Earthshots, with three Finalists per Earthshot and one Winner in each category receiving £1 million at the Awards on 17 November. MLMML is part of a diverse 2026 cohort that also includes Ørsted, Mahila Housing Trust, AirQo, Satellites on Fire, Pula, the City of Barcelona, Bhutan, Indigenous Desert Alliance, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, Zero Emission Maritime Buyers Alliance (ZEMBA), Niue Ocean Wide Trust, PFAS-Free France, South Korea Zero Waste Movement Network and Mother Earth Foundation.
~185,000metric tonnes
From more than 4 lakh Mahindra electric three-wheelers that have collectively travelled over 9 billion kilometres.
For Mahindra, the transition to electric last-mile mobility is as much about livelihoods as it is about emissions. Three-wheelers and small commercial vehicles are working assets for drivers, shopkeepers, delivery partners and small businesses across India, and lower operating costs with better earning potential have strengthened micro-entrepreneurship while reducing tailpipe emissions and improving urban air quality. MLMML's customer-support initiatives include the UDAY NXT programme, which offers benefits such as driver accidental insurance and financial counselling, extending its focus beyond the vehicle to the wellbeing of owner-drivers and their families. Ahead of the Finalist announcement, The Sunday Times (UK) reported from Lucknow on how electric autorickshaws are changing the economics of daily mobility, describing drivers whose savings from electric operation contributed directly to higher household incomes and asset creation.
“Last-mile mobility can deliver environmental and social impact at scale. More than 4 lakh Mahindra electric vehicles on the road today are helping power 4 lakh livelihoods every day. For many of these customers, these vehicles are working assets that support their families and enable micro-entrepreneurship. Being named a Finalist for The Earthshot Prize recognises a model where cleaner mobility, customer prosperity and scale can go together, and strengthens our belief that solutions proven in India can have relevance across other markets.”
“For us, the impact of electric mobility is visible every day in the lives of the drivers and entrepreneurs who depend on these vehicles for their income. When electric becomes the better economic choice for the customer, cleaner mobility can grow much faster. We are seeing that combination of livelihood impact and environmental benefit at meaningful scale. The Earthshot Prize recognition encourages us to take this model further in India and beyond.”
“A practical solution that is already working at scale and changing the way people move around their cities.”
The Earthshot Prize is founded by HRH Prince William, selecting 15 Finalists a year across five environmental categories.
Mahindra announces from Mumbai that Mahindra Last Mile Mobility is among the 15 global Finalists for The Earthshot Prize 2026.
The Earthshot Prize Awards Night takes place in Mumbai — the first time the programme comes to India and its sixth annual Awards Night — where the five Winners are announced.
Why this matters
Being an Earthshot Prize finalist puts an Indian electric three-wheeler maker in front of a global environmental audience, with the winners announced in Mumbai in November. The vehicles matter most to the drivers, delivery partners, shopkeepers and small businesses that use them as working assets, and to Indian cities seeking cleaner air.
Terms in This Story
- Lakh
- A unit used in South Asia equal to 100,000.
- Last-mile mobility
- The final leg of a journey that moves people or goods from a transport hub to their final destination.
- Earthshot Fellowship
- A year-long programme that all Finalists of The Earthshot Prize join, offering support to help grow their solutions.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.