Reported in The Economic Times, Indian car and truck prices will increase by RS 20,000 (~USD $430 today) in the new year due to escalating raw material costs.
As reported on MP last week, it is unclear if the increases in raw material costs will be reflected in the suggested retail prices of US-bound Mahindra TR20 and TR40 pickup trucks. The stagnant Mahindra North America (MahindraNA.com) website has not officially listed retail pricing structure for the US product range. Pricing is pure speculation at this stage.
It is expected that Mahindra will launch the TR20 and TR40 diesel pickups in February of 2010.
The article with quotes from Pawan Goenka can be found: Here (pop-up warning!)
Monday, November 30, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Interesting Speculation: Would Mahindra & Mahindra buy Saab?
In his blog post on BSMotoring.com this morning, blogger Rohin Nagrani curiously speculates that Mahindra & Mahindra would be the only international player with the ability or desire to swoop in and grab Saab after the Koenigsegg deal fell through yesterday.
Mahindra Planet thinks this is a stretch, since M&M have so much on their plate already, but an interesting take on the Saab deal anyway.
The complete post can be found: Here
Mahindra Planet thinks this is a stretch, since M&M have so much on their plate already, but an interesting take on the Saab deal anyway.
The complete post can be found: Here
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Mahindra “Feeling the Pressure” to Increase Vehicle Prices
Pawan Geonka, President of Automotive Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra, has inferred that increases in the cost of raw materials may force an increase in vehicle retail prices in the near future.
An article posted this morning by Moneycontrol.com quotes Goenka:
“We will try and not increase prices in the third quarter, while absorbing increases in the input costs. But if they go up as much as last year, we will have to pass it on to the consumers,”
This news could be yet another hurdle to clear for the US market TR20 and TR40 pickups expected to launch in February of 2010. Since no pricing has officially been set by Mahindra or the US importer, Global Vehicles, it’s not clear how the increase in input costs will trickle down to the Indian-built, US marketed pickup trucks.
Last week, Mahindra Planet posted a chart with completely speculative pricing hierarchy. We took the current Australian market prices, converted them to USD, and then added 25% in order to come up with a completely unscientific estimate of what American buyers might expect to pay for versions of the TR20 and TR40.
The complete Moneycontrol.com article can be found: Here
Friday, November 20, 2009
US Mahindra Pickup Pricing: Clues from Down Under
Speculation continues on Mahindra’s US pricing strategy for the TR20 and TR40 pickups launching in February 2010. An article posted earlier this week on Australia’s The Motor Report announced the introduction of the Pik-Up to the Western Australia market with AUD pricing structure.
The Motor Report article also put together a table including the recommended retail price (plus general sales tax) for various Pik-Up configurations. We’ve taken that table and included the USD conversion. Additionally, we included a column that tacks on 25%. Consider it accounting for the Chicken Tax, shipping, emissions testing, safety testing, or anything else you like. We thought it might appear more representative of actual US sticker prices.
Along with the announcement, the article quotes Mahindra Australia CEO, Claire Tynan on safety improvements made to the Aussie pickups. The comments and improvements appear to be in response to previous ANCAP crash test reports in which the Australian Mahindra pickups didn’t fair so well. As regular readers may recall, a YouTube video of the test was removed shortly after a Mahindra Planet posted a link to it. From the description in the article, the Australian pickups now appear to have all of the same safety equipment as US versions will get in February.
Source: TheMotorReport.com
The Motor Report article also put together a table including the recommended retail price (plus general sales tax) for various Pik-Up configurations. We’ve taken that table and included the USD conversion. Additionally, we included a column that tacks on 25%. Consider it accounting for the Chicken Tax, shipping, emissions testing, safety testing, or anything else you like. We thought it might appear more representative of actual US sticker prices.
Along with the announcement, the article quotes Mahindra Australia CEO, Claire Tynan on safety improvements made to the Aussie pickups. The comments and improvements appear to be in response to previous ANCAP crash test reports in which the Australian Mahindra pickups didn’t fair so well. As regular readers may recall, a YouTube video of the test was removed shortly after a Mahindra Planet posted a link to it. From the description in the article, the Australian pickups now appear to have all of the same safety equipment as US versions will get in February.
Source: TheMotorReport.com
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Mahindra Expects Final EPA and NHTSA Approval in First Quarter 2010
The Press of Atlantic City reports this morning in an interview with Global Vehicles Spokesman, Mike Geylin, that Mahindra pickups are being reviewed by the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration. Global Vehicles expects the TR20 and TR40 pickups to get final approval from both agencies in the first quarter of 2010.
The article also interviews future Mahindra truck dealer, Bill Kassner, owner of Chapman Ford. Chapman is currently expanding one of their dealerships to accommodate the brand. Mahindra vehicles will be featured at their Egg Harbor Township location, and possibly others.
You will find the complete article: Here
Source: PressofAtlanticCity.com
The article also interviews future Mahindra truck dealer, Bill Kassner, owner of Chapman Ford. Chapman is currently expanding one of their dealerships to accommodate the brand. Mahindra vehicles will be featured at their Egg Harbor Township location, and possibly others.
You will find the complete article: Here
Source: PressofAtlanticCity.com
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Mahindra-Satyam to Strengthen Mahindra & Mahindra US Vehicle Efforts
Mahindra’s recently acquired engineering services department, Mahindra-Satyam (formerly Satyam Computer Services) could begin servicing the Mahindra automotive arm and assist in the launch of US market-specific vehicles.
An article posted today in India’s The Financial Express, discusses possible benefits to Mahindra-Satyam working for Mahindra & Mahindra and utilizing their expertise in many areas including IP (intellectual property) management, electronics, and design cycle efficiency.
Currently, Mahindra-Satyam is not employed by M&M even though they are branches of the same tree. It seems to only make sense that eventually there will be a relationship between the two enterprises in their effort to become a major player in the world automotive market.
The full article can be found: Here
Source: The Financial Express
An article posted today in India’s The Financial Express, discusses possible benefits to Mahindra-Satyam working for Mahindra & Mahindra and utilizing their expertise in many areas including IP (intellectual property) management, electronics, and design cycle efficiency.
Currently, Mahindra-Satyam is not employed by M&M even though they are branches of the same tree. It seems to only make sense that eventually there will be a relationship between the two enterprises in their effort to become a major player in the world automotive market.
The full article can be found: Here
Source: The Financial Express
Monday, November 16, 2009
Mahindra: Exploring All Options to Manufacture Pickup Trucks in the US
A Wall Street Journal interview posted Friday morning with Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Anand Mahindra indicates that Mahindra is actively seeking options to build Mahindra vehicles in the United States.
Mahindra states that he is aware of the “great amount of capability and capacity available” to manufacture vehicles in the US. Mahindra goes on the explain that there are no firm plans yet, but options include buying or leasing an existing plant, or building a new facility. He also states that Mahindra does not plan to enter a joint venture for US expansion, quelling any rumors of partnering with Navistar/International or other manufacturers for production on US soil.
The interview also discusses Mahindra's burgeoning tractor sales in China and Africa despite the global economic downturn, and how US and European sales have begun to stabilize. The article in its entirety can be found: Here
Source: WSJ
Mahindra states that he is aware of the “great amount of capability and capacity available” to manufacture vehicles in the US. Mahindra goes on the explain that there are no firm plans yet, but options include buying or leasing an existing plant, or building a new facility. He also states that Mahindra does not plan to enter a joint venture for US expansion, quelling any rumors of partnering with Navistar/International or other manufacturers for production on US soil.
The interview also discusses Mahindra's burgeoning tractor sales in China and Africa despite the global economic downturn, and how US and European sales have begun to stabilize. The article in its entirety can be found: Here
Source: WSJ
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
US Will be Denied Next Generation “Global” Ford Ranger
Ford announced this week that the US will not get a version of the next generation Ranger compact pickup. Reaffirming our last post that domestic truck manufacturers effectively don’t believe there is demand for compact diesel pickups in the United States.
A real shame, as the Australian-developed ‘T6’ Ranger appeared to be a great package for stateside compact truck buyers. As reported by PickupTrucks.com back in May, the 2012 Ranger might’ve been powered by Ford’s 175 HP, 1.6 liter, direct injection, EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine.
On the up side, rumors are circulating that a mid-sized Ford F-100 pickup with a width similar to that of the current F-150, but with a significantly shorter wheelbase may become the current Ranger replacement.
Powertrain options galore may be speculated upon if the F-100 were to come to fruition. However, we feel it would be a shame if they didn’t offer at least one diesel option.
For further reading on the F-100, also check out these TruckTrend.com articles: Here
Via: All Cars All the Time and PickupTrucks.com
Rendering: F-100 by Mark Stehrenberger and Lifted from PickupTrucks.com
A real shame, as the Australian-developed ‘T6’ Ranger appeared to be a great package for stateside compact truck buyers. As reported by PickupTrucks.com back in May, the 2012 Ranger might’ve been powered by Ford’s 175 HP, 1.6 liter, direct injection, EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine.
On the up side, rumors are circulating that a mid-sized Ford F-100 pickup with a width similar to that of the current F-150, but with a significantly shorter wheelbase may become the current Ranger replacement.
Powertrain options galore may be speculated upon if the F-100 were to come to fruition. However, we feel it would be a shame if they didn’t offer at least one diesel option.
For further reading on the F-100, also check out these TruckTrend.com articles: Here
Via: All Cars All the Time and PickupTrucks.com
Rendering: F-100 by Mark Stehrenberger and Lifted from PickupTrucks.com
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