Millions recognise the Mahindra Thar and XUV700, but few know the woman behind their designs; meet Ramkripa Ananthan, the mastermind who carved her place in a male-dominated industry

When you see a Mahindra Thar crossing a rocky terrain in the mountains or a Scorpio commanding attention on the highway or an XUV700 cutting through city traffic like a hero, you may not immediately think of the person behind their rough and tough design. Meet Ramkripa Ananthan, an automobile designer, who has played a significant role in shaping some of India’s most prominent SUVs. The woman has earned a reputation for herself in a field traditionally dominated by men.Meet Ramkripa AnanthanAnanthan always had a creative and analytical mind. She graduated as a mechanical engineer from BITS Pilani and pursued a master’s degree in industrial design from the Industrial Design Centre (IDC), IIT Bombay, graduating in 1997.In her own account on Ola Electric’s website, she recalls moving between villages and towns because of her father’s transferable job. Her childhood involved exploring rice fields, rivers, mountains and forests. These experiences eventually influenced her approach to designing vehicles.According to Wikipedia,Ananthan has led the teams on the designs for a number of Mahindra vehicles including:

In 1997, she joined Mahindra & Mahindra. Her initial assignment was as an interior designer, working on vehicles such as the Bolero, Scorpio and Xylo. but her responsibilities expanded soon and by 2005, she had moved into a leadership position in the design department.In a 2011 interview with The Economic Times, Ananthan recalled how her team had grown from five designers to 20.The woman behind some of Mahindra’s most recognisable SUVs

Ramkripa Ananthan

One of Ananthan’s most major assignments was the Mahindra XUV500, launched in 2011. Unlike the utility vehicles Mahindra was traditionally known for, the XUV500, a globally appealing SUV. The design team needed to create something that looked powerful.According to a detailed account of the vehicle’s development published by Rediff, the cheetah was selected as the central design inspiration after several concepts were considered. These included references to Bruce Lee, Russell Crowe’s character in Gladiator, Spider-Man and combat helicopters.Ananthan and her team translated the animal’s characteristics into the vehicle’s design. Its muscular stance, pronounced wheel arches, grille and distinctive body lines reflected the cheetah’s agility and strength.Next, she led or contributed to the design programmes for several other Mahindra vehicles, including the TUV300, KUV100, XUV300 and Marazzo. She also played a significant role in the design of the newer Thar and XUV700.She was also involved in designing second-generation Thar, introduced in 2020 and the XUV700, launched in 2021.In 2021, BITS Pilani recognised her contribution by presenting her with its Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2021.From SUVs to sustainable mobility: The Two2 experimentAfter spending more than two decades at Mahindra, Ananthan began exploring opportunities beyond conventional automobile design. She briefly established her own design consultancy, KRUX Studio where she would experiment with ideas beyond traditional vehicles.One of its most interesting projects was Two2, a two-door, two-seater electric micro-mobility concept unveiled in February 2022. Two2 was envisioned as a compact mobility solution for congested urban areas.A new chapter with Ola Electric

Ramkripa Ananthan, the mastermind behind Mahindra’s famous SUVs (@thedesignersclass)

In 2022, Ola Electric first engaged KRUX Studio as a design consultancy partner. By August that year, she had joined the electric vehicle company as its Head of Design, taking responsibility for its two-wheeler and planned four-wheeler design programmes.In a March 2024 interview with Motoring World, she spoke about the shift from designing large vehicles to working on electric two-wheelers.Breaking stereotypes, one design at a timeAnanthan’s professional journey challenges the traditional image of the automobile industry.From helping shape the muscular identity of the XUV500 to contributing to the evolution of the Thar and exploring recycled materials through Two2, her career reflects an ability to adapt without losing sight of the fundamentals.And while millions may recognise the vehicles she helped create, fewer know the woman whose imagination helped bring them to life and the road.