Mahindra still on track to launch new pickup in U.S. before 2010
A recent report from The Wall Street Journal suggested that the expected launch of Mahinrda's latest pickup trucks in the United States has been delayed until 2010. According to Global Vehicles USA, the company that will be distributing the trucks in the States, that's not the case. John Perez, CEO of Global Vehicles, told PickupTrucks.com:
There will be Mahindra pickup trucks on the ground, delivered to dealers in calendar year 2009. The number will not be large, but they will hit the showrooms. The major launch, which is still scheduled as a regional roll out, gets going in earnest during 2010.It seems that the truck will indeed hit U.S. dealerships sometime before the end of the year, but the planned diesel-electric hybrid variant has been postponed for now. Still, the truck's 2.2-liter four-cylinder diesel engine is expected to provide up to 30 miles per gallon while still being powerful enough to haul a 1.3 ton load.
Gallery: SAE 2008: Mahindra Scorpio SUV
[Source: PickupTrucks.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sam Watson 6:31PM (5/26/2009)
I'm quite curious about this truck. My first truck was the venerable Toyota Pickup. Small, sturdy and great for hauling gear with a camper shell over the bed. Second truck - Dodge Dakota quad cab with a shell over the bed. Haul lots of gear, plus family/crew, pull trailer and still get decent mileage.
I can't believe how large "entry" level trucks have become. The Mahindra seems compeling as a workhorse. Diesel mileage is very attractive looking back at when gas hit $4 / gal. And honestly, I like the look! It's sort of Land Cruiser in nature which is good.
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guyledouche 7:02PM (5/26/2009)
I agree 100%. I have been a Toyota fan my entire life and have owned 7 of their trucks through the years. The thing that drives me nuts about Toyota though is that they deprived us of their amazing small displacement diesels, that all of the rest of the world enjoys on a daily basis. I think mahindra is going to provide a big wakeup call to toyota and all the rest of the boys selling trucks in the US right now. It is retarded that we do not have compact diesel pickups here. I find it very hard to beleive that Toyotas stellar market research has stopped them from importing them here. I dont know many guys that would not consider or immediately buy a compact diesel here. Look at how well the Dodge sprinter is doing.
I may become a Mahindra guy if tthe truck meets my expectations during my test drive which I have already scheduled with them.
Mahindra makes an EXCELLENT tractor and at a very reasonable price to say the least. They are also not new to the truck manufacturing world and are fairly well respected in the rest of the world for making a pretty durable and well built truck.
The two things that are going to be fighting against them right out of the gate are as follows:
- Only available in AUTO, No MANUAL trans :(
- They are Indian. Even if they had the most amazing truck in the world, Americans by and large do not have a high regard for Indian products and we tend to hold them on the same level as Chinese junk, even though that is often far from a good comparison.
I cant live without a pickup unfortunately, and my EV s-10's will not make it all the way upstate to our farm on the weekends. I do not need a fullsize, and I want a diesel. So what are my current options?? MAHINDRA
I cant say I will definitely buy one, BUT I will DEFINITELY try one! (and probably buy one)
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Aaron 9:28PM (5/26/2009)
Good points.
Ya, being from India, I'm surprised it doesn't run on compressed air. Those people seem fascinated with compressed air as an energy source. :)
win39 11:59PM (5/26/2009)
- They are Indian. Even if they had the most amazing truck in the world, Americans by and large do not have a high regard for Indian products and we tend to hold them on the same level as Chinese junk, even though that is often far from a good comparison.
I don't think Americans have any idea about Indian products. They are not exposed to Indian products here, except for Jaguar maybe. That is a pretty nice product.
Chris 7:21PM (5/26/2009)
While it's nice to see new meat on the market, especially diesel, it is overpriced and ugly. All of their products are just ghastly.
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Aaron 9:26PM (5/26/2009)
I like the diesel and can only dream of my Toyota pickup getting that kind of mileage with that kind of power output. Too bad these trucks look so stupid, though. Datsun's didn't disappear just because they were pieces of crap. They also looked this stupid. Sorry.
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win39 11:59PM (5/26/2009)
Datsun did not disappear. Datsun was a marketing name for just the American market for Nissan. They just decided to use the same name here as in the rest of the world.
KM 8:38AM (5/27/2009)
I'm tired of the overengineered, overly complex cars that are dominant in the market. I want something technologically simple, efficient, and small. Every time I see another article about "new hybrid tech" being tested by some company it is in the guise of an additional subsystem that will be prone to failure and replacement in the future.
The more complex vehicle are, the more they cost to own and maintain. I am curious about Mahindra precisely because I think that perhaps, as a relative newcomer to our market, they may not have overengineered their vehicles, making them easy and cheap to own and maintain.
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vw junky 9:45AM (5/27/2009)
I like the old scool looks, like a old toyota 70's pickup HiLux. If they can get the 30 mpg and come out with a crew cab version I am all over it. I will be in the marked for a truck in the next few years and at the very least I hope they sell millions and that it awakens the other dealers that we want a smaller diesels over here! With the Cafe regulations at least they will be ahead of the game vs the other auto companys.
I like to see what emissions treatment they are going to use. Urea? or something else?
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Rahul 9:54AM (5/27/2009)
Mahindra pick up truck will be the first product from India to touch the revered American shores. It may be a Indian product, but there it has a good chance to beat the best in the market. Mahindra pick up even if it is with CNG should not be overlooked by buyers.
Rahul
Indian Car Advisor (Carazoo.com)
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Chuck 1:05PM (5/27/2009)
I sure hope they've done their rust proofing homework and have taken the appropriate steps so these things are rusting out in 6-8 years, giving them a bad name.
Other than that, with a little more "Americanized" look (it looks a little weird), this thing will be a hot seller.
Chuck
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guyledouche 3:02PM (5/27/2009)
I agree 100%. I think their mechanical, electrical, cosmetic, ergonomic, etc... qualities will all be just fine and in some cases above par compared to the compact pickups we are currently seeing here. The big deciding facter that will either make or break Mahindras name in the US will be their ability to last and stand the test of time. Many parts of the US are downright brutal on vehicles. Ever been to upstate NY? We have a farm up there and it is almost comical when you see how quickly a car or truck can rust out up there. I have seen 5 year old Ford trucks with rust already eating through the fender wells. Its amazing.
Mahindra will have to make sure they coat the hell out of these trucks and also make sure that they use the best possible drivetrain components they can if they really want to secure a name on our soil.
Chuck 3:22PM (5/28/2009)
I of course agree...and just wanted to say I should have said "...so these things AREN'T rusting out..."
Chuck
MahindraPlanet 12:46PM (5/27/2009)
I'm totally biased, but I think Mahindra will find a home on US shores. Their tractors have become part of the landscape and have a great reputation. It may not be a vehicle for everyone, but there will surely be people who find a basic, rugged truck with unique looks very charming.
The first ones will be made in India (, but I think their grass-roots marketing and move to US assembly will really propel them onto the US truck scene. http://mahindraplanet.blogspot.com/2009/02/mahindra-to-initially-build-trucks-for.html
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UteMan 4:36PM (8/14/2009)
I have been trying to get Toyota, GM, Ford to get their Australian diesels over here for years. The problem is not the automakers though, it is the good old US EPA. They make it so difficult and expensive that it is not feasable for the US market. Look at the full size diesel trucks for 2010. The exhaust system alone cost ten grand. Don't run over anything when you off road or you will have an insurance claim or even worse, you may start a fire. It is pathetic.
I have driven Nissan, Mitsubishi and Toyota intercooled turbo diesels in Australia and I would love to have one over here. I have decided the only way it will happen is if I just bring the drive train over and put it in my own Toyota.
Thanks EPA....!
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cigarsmke 2:08PM (10/01/2009)
Well since the big three REFUSED to sell diesel light duty half ton pick up trucks, I will be buying the Mahindra diesel pick up and add the hydraulic hybrid system into the truck. The big three is refusing or just dumb enough to think there is no demand for diesel that can use biodiesel as well. ADIOS big three! Ppfffttt!!
Here is the link I was talking about hydraulic hybrid system.
http://www.hydraulichybridsystems.com/
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kavitha 9:12AM (10/13/2009)
Small Car that you plan buy in near future?
A) Tata Nano
B) Hyundai i10
C) Maruti 800
VOTE HERE
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