Why Anand Mahindra gifted XUV400 EV to Indian chess prodigy Praggnanandhaa

Indian chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa has received a special gift recently – a Mahindra XUV400 electric SUV for his parents. Anand Mahindra, chairman of the Mahindra Group, last year, promised to gift the model to the youngster’s parents after his heroics in the global chess scene. The 18-year-old took delivery of the electric SUV and shared the moment on his X handles as he wrote “Received XUV400.My parents are very happy. Thank you very much,” showing his appreciation for Mahindra’s gesture.
Why did Anand Mahindra give the XUV400 to the chess star?
In August 2023, Mahindra announced the gift on his X handle after Praggnanandhaa’s remarkable performance at the FIDE World Chess Cup. The talented young player not only won a silver medal but also made history as the first Indian since Viswanathan Anand in 2002 to reach the finals.

Mahindra, known for supporting athletes representing India globally, has gifted cars from his company to several players. Following Praggnanandhaa’s impressive performance, a user urged Mahindra to gift a Thar SUV to him. However, Mahindra responded with a different idea.
In his reply, Mahindra said “I would like to encourage parents to introduce their children to Chess & support them as they pursue this cerebral game (despite the surge in popularity of video games!). It’s an investment in a better future for our planet, just like EVs. And so, I think we should gift an XUV4OO EV to the parents of Praggnanandhaa who deserve our gratitude for nurturing their son’s passion & for giving him their untiring support.”
Praggnanandhaa’s journey is truly remarkable. At just 10 years old, he achieved the title of international master, and by the age of 12, he became a grandmaster, making him the second-youngest in history to do so. In the Chess World Cup last year, Praggnanandhaa advanced to the final, where he faced off against the reigning World Number 1, Magnus Carlsen.