New Delhi: InterGlobe Aviation Limited, the parent company of IndiGo Airlines, has filed a lawsuit against Mahindra & Mahindra for the alleged unauthorized use of the ‘6e’ moniker. The dispute arises after Mahindra Electric Automobile Limited, a subsidiary of Mahindra, launched two electric vehicles (EVs) last week under the ‘Electric Origin’ range, including the BE 6e and XEV 9e.
According to a report by Bar & Bench, IndiGo has filed a trademark infringement suit against Mahindra Electric before the Delhi High Court. The suit claims that the use of ‘6e’ in Mahindra’s BE 6e electric SUV violates IndiGo’s registered trademark, ‘6E,’ which is integral to the airline’s branding. The case is expected to be heard in February 2025.
The issue came to light when the case was presented before Justice Amit Bansal on Tuesday. However, the judge chose to recuse himself from the matter, and the next hearing is scheduled for December 9. Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi, who is representing IndiGo, informed the court that Mahindra had reached out to the airline for discussions, indicating that the two parties are trying to resolve the matter amicably.
IndiGo, which operates under the distinctive ‘6E’ callsign, uses the brand extensively across its services, including offerings like 6E Prime, 6E Flex, and other add-ons such as extra baggage and lounge access. In 2015, IndiGo registered the trademark “6E Link” for services across transportation and telecommunications to protect its brand identity.
Meanwhile, Mahindra Electric had applied for and received approval for the ‘BE 6e’ trademark under Class 12 (vehicles) from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on November 25, 2023, just one day before the official launch of its BE 6e SUV. This trademark registration allows Mahindra to use ‘6e’ for a range of motor vehicles and related components.
In an official statement, Mahindra clarified its position, stating, “Mahindra revealed its electric origin SUVs, the BE 6e and XEV 9e, on November 26, 2024. We have applied for trademark registration under Class 12 (vehicles) for ‘BE 6e,’ which is part of our electric-origin SUV portfolio. We don’t 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, thereby eliminating any risk of confusion. The distinct styling of the two marks further emphasizes their uniqueness.”
Mahindra also expressed its commitment to addressing IndiGo’s concerns, stating, “We have taken on board the concerns that InterGlobe Aviation Limited has regarding the infringement of their goodwill, which was not our intention. We are engaged in discussions with them to find an amicable solution.”
