Tech creator Venom’s Tech, who has over 1.4 million subscribers, shared details late on January 31, 2026, of an August 2025 crash involving his Mahindra XEV 9e and a subsequent insurance and repair dispute.
Technology content creator Venom’s Tech, who has over 1.4 million subscribers on YouTube, uploaded a video late on January 31, 2026, detailing a serious accident involving his Mahindra XEV 9e and the events that followed, including an extended insurance dispute and concerns about repair quality.
In the video, the YouTuber revealed that he had purchased the electric SUV on August 7, 2025, and had driven it less than 100 kilometers before the incident occurred.
According to his account, the accident took place on August 29, 2025, while returning via Old Mussoorie Road near Dehradun. He stated that at a sharp U-shaped turn, a vehicle allegedly approached from the wrong side. In attempting to avoid it, he steered left, after which the vehicle fell into a deep gorge and overturned.
He said the vehicle landed upside down and that water was located adjacent to where the car came to rest. He also mentioned concern about potential electric shock risks due to the vehicle being an EV.
Venom’s Tech stated that all airbags deployed and that neither he nor his companion sustained injuries. He credited the vehicle’s structural durability and safety systems for preventing harm.
He further said the car’s automatic emergency call system activated, connected him to emergency services, and transmitted location details to authorities. Police reportedly arrived quickly, and local residents assisted in rescuing them from the gorge.
Following the crash, he stated that he contacted his insurer for roadside assistance but was informed that extraction from a gorge was not covered under roadside assistance. A private crane was arranged to recover the vehicle.
The vehicle was transported to a Mahindra workshop for assessment. According to his account, the workshop initially prepared a repair estimate of ₹56 lakh, while the insurance surveyor issued a counter-estimate of approximately ₹11 lakh and recommended repair rather than declaring it a total loss.
He stated that the insured declared value (IDV) of the vehicle was approximately ₹29 lakh and that he had requested the car be declared a total loss. However, he claimed the insurance provider declined, citing repair costs below the total loss threshold.
Venom’s Tech said the dispute and assessment process continued for about six weeks before repairs were initiated in mid-October 2025. He stated that he was assured the vehicle would be restored to near-new condition within one month.
According to him, the car was ultimately returned on January 29, 2026, and the final repair cost amounted to approximately ₹18 lakh.
In the video, he listed multiple issues he claims to have identified after receiving the vehicle, including exposed wiring, missing screws, loose interior fittings, non-functional USB-C connectivity for wired Android Auto, glass particles inside AC vents, panel alignment gaps, and paint inconsistencies.
He also stated that the instrument cluster displayed a battery low-voltage warning and that an “Automatic Emergency Steering Malfunction” error appeared. He said lane-centering functionality was not working and that headlights were switching on and off automatically. Additionally, he claimed one rear seat belt lock was missing.
He expressed concern about long-term reliability and safety but reiterated that the vehicle’s safety systems functioned effectively during the crash itself.
Mahindra has not issued a public response to the claims made in the January 31 video at the time of publication.
Suhail Gulati
Suhail Gulati is the founder of ElecTree and an economist by training. He holds a Master's degree in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics and has worked in credit, retail banking, and financial stress testing at Barclays and American Express. He founded ElecTree in 2023 — building it into India's dedicated platform for 4-wheeler EV data, sales analysis, and original reporting. His work sits at the intersection of economic analysis and electric mobility — bringing a banker's rigour to a sector that deserves it.