I've been thinking about this all day- John Perez, now CEO of Global Vehicles, the importer of the Mahindra trucks, has a great track record: First, he sets up a dealer network for military surplus vehicles from eastern Europe, then folds when the dealers want the vehicles to sell, after giving him $15million. Then, he sets up a network and a whole company to sell the ARO 244 as the Cross Lander. Great specs on that truck, and I wanted one so bad. No frills, heavy duty diesel 4x4 SUV with a manual. Then the company folded, and accusations of underhanded dealings in Romania.
Now it's Mahindra. Another seemingly interesting vehicle with lots of potential, but the launch has already been pushed back a couple times. Anybody care to figure out what happens next?

 

I am not certain if the trucks will meet US crash safety requirements.
They have been sold in Australia for about 10years now - but their crash and pedestrian safety is terrible:
https://www.mynrma.com.au/cps/rde/xc...ra_pick-up.htm

 

I think it's pretty obvious where this is going Jared and it isn't likely going to be good. However, if it does succeed, I can see it being like the Yugo. The new greatest thing to have that ends up being a rolling turd. Difficult to get parts for, trouble with warranty coverage, hard to find dealers close enough to get work done when it breaks down, etc.

The thing that concerns me with these, among other things, is the fact that there will be relatively few dealers spread across the U.S. That's going to be mighty inconvenient when it's time for warranty work, etc.

I think it's like a lot of other hyped up offerings. There are promises of grandeur but the reality is not nearly as bright.

 

I was hoping it would be a better thing.
If the trucks lived up to their hype it would be a great thing.

Too bad a dirtbag like this got involved. The Mahindra tractors seem to be doing ok.

 

A local dealership that was robbed of his Dodge franchise has apparently already signed up to sell Mahindra. I would love to see them make thier way over here and be sucessful. It seemed to me as though the little truck would be quite a brute especially with the diesel.

Tim

 

Hyundai had the same type of problems when it originally started in the USA.

 

Every successful brand had to start small. But, if a dirtbag is the front man, it doesnt look good. Too bad, since Ford, GM, Fiatsler, Toyota, Nissan, etc seem determined to NOT give the US market light diesels.

Jim

 

There was a small article in yesterday's local paper saying that some 300+ dealers in the country have signed up to sell Mahindra. It further reported that the company is working out some last minute issues on the truck in an effort to sell the highest quality product and also mentioned that it will be the only diesel truck of it's size available in the US market. The article stated that the truck should be ready by mid 2010.

Tim

 

Defining "quality" is tricky. They may be talking about getting the factory ISO9000 certified, or something like that. Unfortunately, American customers complain about things like "not enough cup holders" in QUALITY surveys!

Due to different emissions standards, California and New England states still wont see it.

Jim

 

See, this is the same BS as with the Cross Lander trucks. They kept having "last minute issues", and then the company folded. Mahindra trucks are already a year behind the original arrival date, they pushed it to fall of 09, then early 2010, then spring 2010, now mid- 2010.
Screw it, I have a Courier that needs an engine, and a Mercedes diesel. I'll have my small diesel pickup-

 

It might just happen.

EPA Approves Diesel-Powered Mahindra Compact Pickups | The Truth About Cars

Mahindra Diesel Pickup Truck Approved by EPA | PriceWheels Blog

 

yeah the last thing we need is more non us vehicles and non us companies squeezing us out, buy american support us made!

 

Then why is Ford not supporting US with the new Ranger the rest of the world is getting? Why is Ford and GM not offering US any small diesels?

2010 F-150 V-8/auto ONLY
2011 F-150 V-6, yes, but still no manual trans option

Give US more choices and we wont go elsewhere.

 

Interesting... I just read that Mahindra was dumping their agreements with some/all US dealers. The US dealers were planning to fight it big time.

Sorry, don't have the link

 

Ford2go,
You may have read about the results of a lawsuit between Perez and Mahindra.

Jared, maybe you ought to mashup the 300 turbo as well as the smaller 240D engine.
Sell a complete kit for 70 or 125 horsepower conversions.
Getting it legal without urea injection would be the problem here in the States.

Do Toyota and Isuzu see a market so small that it's not worth getting their existing small diesels certified?