In a notable legal battle over trademark infringement, IndiGo Airlines has taken Mahindra Electric Automobile Limited to the Delhi High Court. The conflict centers on Mahindra’s use of the ‘6E’ trademark in its upcoming electric vehicle, the Mahindra BE 6E, slated for release in February 2025.
The lawsuit was lodged by Interglobe Aviation, the parent company of IndiGo, alleging that Mahindra Electric’s use of ‘6E’ infringes upon its registered trademark. IndiGo, which is India’s largest airline, has used ‘6E’ as its callsign and a prominent part of its branding strategy.
Justice Amit Bansal was scheduled to hear the case on Tuesday but recused himself. The proceedings are now postponed to December 9. Meanwhile, efforts for an amicable resolution seem to be in the offing, as IndiGo’s counsel, Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi, disclosed in court that discussions between the two companies had commenced the previous evening.
The ‘6E’ designation is integral to IndiGo’s identity, associated with a variety of passenger services including 6E Prime and 6E Flex, which offer perks such as priority check-in and flexible ticketing options. IndiGo secured the trademark for ‘6E Link’ across multiple categories, including electronic and printed advertising, in 2015.
On the other hand, Mahindra Electric’s recent application to trademark ‘BE 6e’ for its vehicle range was accepted on November 25. If granted, this would cover a broad array of motor vehicles under class 12, which does not overlap with the classes for which IndiGo holds its ‘6E’ trademark.
