Anand Mahindra calls for 'attack mode' as M&M bets on ₹15,000 crore investment, innovation amid global uncertainty

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) Chairman Anand Mahindra has urged India Inc. to stop waiting for global uncertainty to recede and instead accelerate investments and execution, arguing that periods of disruption offer the best opportunity to build long-term competitive advantage.

In his message to shareholders in the company's FY26 Annual Report, Mahindra unveiled an "Attack Mode" strategy, replacing last year's 'Samudra Manthan' theme with a call for calculated acceleration in an increasingly volatile world.

The chairman's remarks come at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, shifting supply chains and economic fragmentation. Mahindra said the Group's strong financial and operational performance in FY26—including historical highs, a sharp rise in innovation and a proposed ₹15,000-crore investment in Nagpur over the next decade—demonstrated that businesses can create value even amid uncertainty.

'Attack Mode' over caution

Drawing inspiration from Formula E racing, Mahindra explained that "Attack Mode" is about accelerating strategically when conditions are imperfect rather than waiting for clarity to emerge.

"Attack Mode is a strategy adopted in Formula E racing, where a racing driver makes a deliberate choice to accelerate at the right moment, in imperfect conditions. In ideal conditions, overtaking is difficult because everyone is already operating at top speed. It is when conditions are rainy or hazy that calculated acceleration can propel you to victory. This is not reactive speed; it is strategic acceleration, backed by preparation and conviction," he wrote.

Emphasising execution over caution, Mahindra added, "As the cover symbolises, we are accelerating through the fog, confident in the strength of our vision, the clarity of our strategy, and the effectiveness of our execution."

'Manthan 2.0' demands resilience

While highlighting M&M's achievements—including the launch of the NU_IQ platform, an increase in granted patents from 56 to over 1,300 during the past decade, and the proposed ₹15,000-crore Nagpur investment—Mahindra cautioned that global disruption is becoming permanent rather than temporary.

"The Manthan is far from over. We must now brace ourselves for Manthan 2.0. Uncertainty is no longer the exception; it is the rule. Black swan events have become obsolete because the pond is full of black swans," he said, describing today's business environment as one characterised by "continuous earthquakes" that demand greater organisational agility and resilience.

India's opportunity as a 'connector economy'

Mahindra also argued that the changing geopolitical landscape presents India with a unique strategic opening. Mahindra also argued that the changing geopolitical landscape presents India with a unique strategic opening. Referring to calls by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and other global leaders for a shift from rigid trading blocs towards multiple coalitions, he said India's rise is increasingly aligned with the way the world is being reconfigured.

"For India, the stars are favourable," he wrote, adding that the country is well positioned to benefit from the emerging global order.

"The next global order may well be built by those who can become 'connectors' in a fragmented world. This opens up an opportunity for India to be a 'connector economy' that works across divides. It is already beginning to establish this reputation with its low-key 'goodwill towards all' approach over the past year," he wrote.

Mahindra added that India's democracy, political stability, geographical position as a political and economic buffer against China, large domestic market and the trust it enjoys across ideological blocs make it "the definition of a perfect connector economy".

He also argued that having pioneered the concept of non-alignment, India should now evolve into a "multi-aligned" force and a trusted global partner. "The question for India is no longer whether it will rise, but how fully it will translate this moment into an enduring advantage," he added