Mahindra 4x4 pickup

[Totenkopf]

Mahindra model would cost under $25,000.

That's crazy. I will take a Ranger, stripped F-150, or any of the GM or Dodge trucks instead. If that will be the price, the importer should cut his losses now. Indian cars are only second to chinese when you look at how crappy and unsafe they are.

 

[762X39]

You can buy a base model ranger now for $13k and my F150 Supercab which cost $30k in 2004 now sells for $23k. Yes it will be a hard go for imports from China and India and yes they may have poor fit and finish (I wouldn't go so far as to say crappy and unsafe without crash testing etc) but then the Koreans only took a decade or so to improve quality control and offer a product that rivals the Japanese.

 

[Gurkha]

The Koreans are still not close to Japanese no matter what. For Mahindra Scorpio truck it will take way longer, its all looks but in terms of safety its a joke as it flips easily with slightest provocation due to its design constraints.

 

[gary in ohio]

Global Vehicles USA announced recently that the first examples of the Mahindra and Mahindra diesel pickup for USA customers will be built in India. The original plan had been to buy a plant in Ohio and assemble the pickup from kits delivered from India.

I wonder if they EVER even had any talks. I have heard nothing in the OHIO press that anyone was looking to build. Usually when any business is looking to do something in ohio there is press that at lest there were looking.


I put my name on the list to give them a try whenever they get here.

If they can deliver on the MPG and dont make it just another cup holder count driven vehicle it still could be good.

 

[mikeincg]

Mahindra has long history of making durable farm tractors, they are a wealthy corporation I believe that this is a very well thought out venture by Mahindra in India.
Our Mahindra 135 farm tractor was a tough little SOB in Florida, I would by another in heartbeat.
They have a very large farm tractor dealor network as well.

This little truck is intriguing to me.

 

[taco2go]

OK , this is probably more of an emotion vs cerebral driven conjecture, and having grown up in India, I'm eager to see how this plays out....because I think that for staying power- they need to design a vehicle for the American market from the ground up. (I initially thought the common rail diesel would offer a foot in the door.) Simply transplanting a Scorpio or Bolero into metro Atlanta feels to me like a weird George Costanza “planets are colliding” episode… These vehicles are so ingrained into the Indian landscape- especially the vast rural stretches, that it’s hard for me to picture a Mahindra on US highways, just as I cannot envision an India WITHOUT the ubiquitous jeeps and Ambassador sedans. They are, as someone succinctly observed, crappy and unsafe, but they also have been plying those little dusty roads for over half a century, often held together with little more than strategically sprinkled tumeric and Ganesha’s good will……and somehow fit in better than a kitted out Land Cruiser or Tdi Defender.

pics courtesy Derek Redmond

 

[Gurkha]

Maybe you need to visit India again.

Problem with Scorpio apart from its powertrain is that its suspension is like a horse cart, the rear is atrocious to say the last, it hops even on good roads and one of the reasons it has a tendency to flip over.

 

[Maddmatt]

The Koreans are still not close to Japanese no matter what.

I don't know about that, I worked with a guy who had a 50 mile each way commute, bought a Kia something or other as a cheap commuter. High 20's to low 30's mpg had one transmission replaced (under warranty) at just under 100k - as far as I know he's still driving it. I rode many miles in that thing, it was comfortable, quiet and all together a well built little car.

Also, the new Hyundai Genesis is sure getting a lot of great press.... I think the Japanese can no more afford to rest on their laurels than the US firms could in the 80's. The only difference is the time range has become compressed, if it only took the Koreans 10-15 years to do what the Japanese did in 20, can the Indians do it in 5-10? I bet they can. Put me down for a test drive in a Mahindra (of course I'm still on the waiting list for a Crosslander too, so I guess I never learn )
-Matt

 

[Gurkha]

Yup - no doubt the cities and "townships" are much more modern. Nice photos.
I go every year- medical missions in Uttaranchal, Uttrakhand, Himachal and Nepal. Leave end of April...

Pity, till last year I was living in Himachal, we could have hooked up, any chance you are coming by West Bengal or nearabouts, would be a pleasure to meet you.

 

[taco2go]

Maybe you need to visit India again.

Yup - no doubt the cities and "townships" are much more modern. Nice photos.
I go every year- medical missions in Uttaranchal, Uttrakhand, Himachal and Nepal. Leave end of April...

 

[SAS]

Put me down for a test drive in a Mahindra (of course I'm still on the waiting list for a Crosslander too, so I guess I never learn )
-Matt

Me too, Matt!

Tracy

 

[haven]

Here's a wild notion: Sell Mahindra & Mahindra products at Saturn dealerships.

Automotive News is reporting that GM approached Global Vehicles USA, the importer for the M&M diesel pickup and SUV, and asked them to consider re-branding the trucks as Saturns.

GVUSA declined, but this got them thinking. GM has announced that they will not provide Saturn dealers with cars after 2011. The dealers will need someone else's cars to sell. So GVUSA approached a number of Saturn dealerships directly with the idea of becoming joint Saturn/Mahindra dealers. Reportedly, a few dealers signed up.

GVUSA continues to say the M&M diesel pickup, with two and four door cabs and with 2WD or 4WD, will be available this Fall at more than 300 dealers across the USA.

Here's where I saw the report:
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/03/04/mahindra-trucks-coming-to-a-saturn-dealer-near-you/

Incidentally, GVUSA has updated its web site. Check it out at
http://www.mahindrana.com

 

[ZooJunkie]

Wonder if their diesel is clean enough for CA. That would be a compelling option!!

 

[DavidG]

The website has improved quite a bit. It is much more professional in appearance. Now they need to work on the accessories and options. The base model is the only one that looks remotely rugged. Their taste in wheels, light bars, etc on the upmarket versions is terrible and will only turn off potential buyers. Get me in there, I'll show them

 

[ZooJunkie]

Yah, I was turned off by their wheels and grill.