Mahindra SUV and Pickup Sales Increase 14%

Mumbai, India based, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, has released its August sales report indicating that full range domestic auto sales have increased 29% and sales of it’s SUVs and pickups have increased 14% over August 2009 figures.

The Indian utility vehicle maker, who is expected to sell low-priced, 30 mpg, diesel compact pickup trucks in the United States beginning in December of 2010, has been experiencing significant growth in 2010 despite parts shortages which have hampered full growth potential.

The anticipated US market Mahindra TR20 and TR40 pickup trucks are set to launch this December, and an SUV variant (Mahindra Scorpio) is rumored to launch sometime in 2011. US emissions certifications for the pickups were obtained in August and the Scorpio SUV has recently been seen testing in the southern United States. However, Mahindra is currently battling a lawsuit brought on by their US import partner, Global Vehicles USA, and Mahindra has not publicly indicated whether or not Indian production of the US bound vehicles has even begun.

Source: Mahindra

Hey Mahindra, Are You Listening?

And Mahindra & Mahindra thinks I’m down on them? Mahindra Planet’s occasional constructive criticism and suggestions for mitigating Mahindra’s multiple US pickup launch delays, their blatant disregard for positive public relations, and how they appear to ‘deal’ with their partners (Global Vehicles), their dealers, and their future customers has nothing on what some Indians have to say about them. This is not to mention all of the great commentary written by fans and detractors alike on various mainstream automotive news sites. Consider this post as an open appeal to Mahindra.


Dear Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd,


Most of us fans here in the US now figure that you really don’t care what any of us may think of you. However, most of us are convinced that you have the right product at the right time (and are ready to buy it now) and generally want to see you succeed. Some see your promised launches and subsequent delays as a reflection on your ability to deliver a vehicle that will meet expectations. Others see you as an arrogant corporation who has frustrated it’s own dealer network, is being sued by GV in the US and the UK to motivate you to deliver vehicles, is trying to dissolve contracts via press releases, and is even trying to kill Mahindra Planet as it currently exists and takeover http://www.mahindraplanet.com/ for it’s own use.


I don’t know much about marketing, but it seems to me that listening to your customers and working to continuously improve your public perception are things that most companies aspire to do. Regardless, if you do actually care about your future in the United States, you should click the links listed below and see what your potential customers really think of you, your business practices, and your products before you, ahem, deliver pickups in December.


Sincerely,
Mahindra Planet

Here you go Mahindra (or anyone else interested). Here are the MP top 5 must-read, user-generated, Mahindra PR links:

1 – Team-BHP.com
This is (IMHO) simply the best Indian car forum out there. Some serious car fans from around the world are on this site. This very long thread reveals that some people in India have a surprising lack of faith in the success of Mahindra’s US launch. It’s an eye-opener.

2 – Autoblog.com
This is a post with some, er, interesting comments. Some good, some bad. All are a good read.

3 – PickupTrucks.com
This is Mike Levine’s latest post on Mahindra, again full of colorful commentary. I suggest digging through some of the older posts and reading those comments as well.

4 – Jalopnik.com
It’s hard to beat Jalopnik’s posts. Again, the comments are a very interesting read. Search through older posts and read those comments too.

5 – MahindraTruckForum.com
Goes without saying, MTF is the voice of Mahindra lovers and haters in the US, offering opinions galore. If you sincerely want (or barely care) to put your fingers on the pulse of the US Mahindra truck scene, you’d better get on board. Your importer and dealers lurk and participate on MTF; you should be doing the same.

Sources: As Hyperlinked

Mahindra Scorpio Spotted Testing In Tennessee

Jalopnik.com has posted photos of a Mahindra Scorpio SUV caught testing in Tennessee earlier this month. The Scorpio is likely to launch stateside sometime in 2011.


Mahindra has repeatedly said that an SUV will follow the eventual launch of Mahindra TR20 and TR40 pickups. It appears that this test mule is proof of that recurring statement. Sighting of the Scorpio (and the trailer it is towing) could be a very good indication that the December launch of Mahindra’s compact diesel pickups is actually (for once) on schedule.

Source: Jalopnik (with more photos)

Mahindra Moves Forward: “We Have Dealers Calling Us”

Alabama-based, MontgomeryAdvertiser.com posted a report this morning after speaking with Global Vehicles USA’s Dan T. Najour (vice president of sales and marketing) and Max Butler (GV’s marketing and PR consultant) on the expected December sales date for the Indian-made, compact diesel pickup trucks.


Najour was asked if dealers were backing out of their commitment to selling the first Indian brand of light trucks and SUV’s in the United States. His response was that very few have backed out, and GV is still getting inquiries from dealers interested in carrying the Mahindra brand despite launch delays and pending lawsuits.

MontgomeryAdvisor was unable to contact Birmingham-based Mahindra dealer, Serra Automotive Group (one of the first dealerships in the country to publicly acknowledge their connection with Mahindra) and noted that their website (serraautomotive.com) was no longer operational. However, Serra’s Chevrolet website does still appear to be active and they are still listed as a dealer on the Mahindra NA dealer map.

The outlook for a December 2010 launch of the low-to-mid $20,000 compact pickups is still optimistic. Let’s hope it happens this time around.

Sources: As Hyperlinked