Mahindra:Diesel Approved and Gas/Electric Hybrid by 2013

[msirach]

Mahindra to enter U.S. market

Mike Sirach - CleanMPG - August 25, 2010

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. said Friday it has received clearance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to sell its pickup trucks in the country, giving the Indian company a much-awaited entry into the U.S. market.

"Mahindra has joined a select group of global automobile manufacturers who have received this certification for diesel-powered light duty vehicles," said India's biggest manufacturer of sport utility vehicles. The 2.2 liter four cylinder compact Mahindra truck is slated for delivery in the U.S by December. The truck was originally planned to be introduced in the country in August 2009, but was delayed because the company didn't receive regulatory approvals and had to develop the product to suit requirements.

Georgia-based Global Vehicles entered into an agreement with Mahindra in 2006 for the exclusive distribution of Mahindra vehicles in the U.S. They filed a lawsuit against Mahindra for failure to deliver vehicles for sale in December after it failed to receive regulatory approval. Global spent $35 million to set up 350 dealerships as part of the agreement, besides paying a substantial amount of money to Mahindra, the U.S. company said.

Mahindra didn't immediately elaborate on whether the U.S. clearance will have an impact on the lawsuit. The pickup truck will likely be followed by a version of Mahindra's Scorpio utility vehicle in December 2011, and a new SUV with a gas-electric hybrid option by 2013.

[WriConsult]

Can't wait to see what the mpg is on this one. Maybe this will pressure the more established (in North America) automakers to bring us more efficient compact pickups.

[PaleMelanesian]

I hope you're right!

[topcfo]

If the foreign or domestic manufacturer's do feel any pressure, it would only be from an mpg standpoint...the Mahindra is 3rd world design all the way

[WriConsult]

Agreed. I'm sure the Mahindra p/u will be crude, unrefined and possibly also unreliable.

But if it's cheap and popular, and if focus groups show many of the buyers to be attracted by fuel economy or other diesel attributes, then the other automakers will take note.

And speaking of "other diesel attributes" ... unlike the ultra-clean diesel cars now offered by VW and others, presumably this crude-tech engine is will run moderate enough injection pressures to be compatible with biodiesel. An inexpensive compact pickup with biodiesel capability would quickly become a popular cult vehicle here, regardless of who builds it. I see plenty of VWs, old Mercedes and (yes, really) fullsize diesel pickups with "BIODIESEL: NO WAR REQUIRED" stickers on them locally.

[seftonm]

Looks like Mahindra decided to go with urea based SCR as well. That may help a little with biodiesel compatibility.

[msirach]

Mahindra does have a long history with the USA. It will be interesting to see the quality. Some International farm tractors were built by Mahindra as well as Army Jeeps. Here is some details from: Mahindra's website

The Willys Jeep™ became an icon during World War II due to its unrivaled ruggedness, utility and reliability. Shortly after the war ended, K.C. Mahindra visited the United States and met Barney Roos, the Jeep’s™ inventor. Mahindra was impressed by the Jeep’s™ sheer durability in its wartime role and an idea soon dawned on him.
A vehicle that had excelled in such a treacherous environment as wartime Europe would be perfect for India’s rural roads and vast, rugged terrain. The Mahindra brothers won the contract from Willys USA™, and in 1949 the assembly of Jeeps™ in India began.

History:

Mahindra is one of the most dynamic automakers in the world today, with a 60-year record of quality and innovation. The company has launched nearly a dozen new products in the past 15 years and has partnered with leading U.S., Asian and European automakers on exciting joint ventures and advanced new manufacturing facilities in India.

The longtime leader in India’s utility vehicles market, with a near 50 percent market share, Mahindra now sells its products in more than 25 countries on six continents. In 2010, Mahindra vehicles are scheduled to become the first line of Indian-made automobiles to debut in the United States.

The $6 billion Mahindra Group is one of the top 10 industrial conglomerates in India. Forbes has ranked the Mahindra Group in its Top 200 list of the World’s Most Reputable Companies and in the Top 10 list of Most Reputable Indian companies.

The Mahindra Group’s Automotive Sector is in the business of manufacturing and marketing utility and light commercial vehicles, including three-wheelers. It is the market leader in utility vehicles in India, and currently accounts for about half of India’s utility vehicle production.
Created in 1994 following an organizational restructuring, the Automotive Sector can trace its roots back to 1954. The iconic jeep that led American GIs to victory in World War II is the same vehicle that drove the Mahindra Group to success in its early days. Mahindra & Mahindra Limited, the flagship company of the Group, was set up as a franchise for assembling general purpose utility vehicles from Willy’s USA™.

[bnther]

I'm fairly excited about this truck. I've been watching it for a while now and I believe the mileage for the 4wd diesel is supposed to be 30mpg highway. Payload is supposed to be phenomenal and I'm optimistic about reliability. Mahindra has been making Jeeps and farm equipment for a number of years now. I've got to believe that it should be at least a little better than my last Silverado.

[ILAveo]

Originally Posted by WriConsult

Agreed. I'm sure the Mahindra p/u will be crude, unrefined and possibly also unreliable.

But if it's cheap and popular, and if focus groups show many of the buyers to be attracted by fuel economy or other diesel attributes, then the other automakers will take note.

...

What people usually mean by "sophistication" in vehicles ( for example, wood trim accents and the plushest carpeting) is often viewed as irrelevant by people who use trucks as trucks. Mahindra's over 1 ton payload seems like a good thing to me, but probably will make it drive like an "unrefined" truck when it isn't loaded. I'm more disappointed that it will only be offered with an automatic transmission.

Mahindra tractors seem to have a decent reputation. Based on that, I would expect a truck with average reliability that is easy to fix if parts are available.

Maybe Ford will choose to update the Ranger with a small diesel engine now?

[GreenBlues]

They will be shipped in a knock down kit and assembles here to avoid the 25% "chicken tax" on imported trucks: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_tax

(I did not know the Ford Transit is imported form Turkey.)