Revealed: The New Mahindra TR

Recent headlines have not given US Mahindra fans much encouragement lately: Mahindra’s Dismal EPA Fuel Economy, Global Vehicles Drops Lawsuit Against Mahindra, etc. Good ol’ MP is here to tell you it’s not all doom and gloom. Well, we don’t think so anyway…

We’ve alluded to this before on MahindraTruckForum.com, but MP believes that the much rumored the next generation Scorpio/Getaway/TR20/TR40 is very close to launch. The key to this? The Mahindra Genio:

"We are very keen on exporting this.. when we conceptualized this product, we were also looking at in exporting also...we are confident that it will drive the growth in the pickup segment...," - Senior Vice-President Sales and Customer Care, Mahindra & Mahindra, Arun Malhotra (at the Genio launch on 28-Jan-2011)

Why do we believe that the Genio is the basis for an all new TR? The numbers don’t lie:

                         Mahindra Genio Single 4x2   Mahindra TR20 4x2
GVWR              6,460 lb                                   6,945 lb
Curb Weight     3,704 lb                                    4,180 lb
Payload             2,756 lb/1.38 ton                     2,785 lb/1.39 ton
Width                72.4 in                                      69.7 in
Length              207.6 in                                     206.0 in
Height               73.6 in                                       71.8 in

“From this year to the end of March 2012, there will be a slew of products launched across passenger and commercial vehicles segments. There will be about 8-10 substantial new products, including variants and refreshes, launched during the period.” – President Automotive and Farm Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra, Pawan Goenka

The Genio (internally called U202) is built on the Mahindra Ingenio chassis launched in 2009 for the domestic market Xylo multi-purpose vehicle (basically what we would call a 7-passenger van, think Ford E-Series). The Ingenio chassis was designed to replace the current Scorpio chassis which sits underneath most of Mahindra’s light trucks built since 2002 (Scorpio, Bolero, and Thar). The obvious intent was to create a modern chassis with greater configuration flexibility which could carry a variety of powertrain options, wheelbases, and overall lengths.

A Genio-based next generation TR means that the US would get Mahindra’s latest and greatest chassis design. A chassis that was designed to carry diesel or diesel-hybrid powertrains (maybe even all-electric via Reva) and it was designed for 4WD or AWD drivetrains.

Replace the Genio’s utility bed with an integrated conventional pickup truck box and you have a new pickup with a distinctly more modern feel than the current TR (goodbye drip rails and 90’s Toyota rip-off styling). Is it pretty? Meh. Is it better styled than the TR? Maybe. But then the TR styling has grown on us over the last 3 years. It certainly is more modern and appears to be much higher quality inside and out.

Going back to our comparison of Genio versus TR20 specifications, the Genio weighs nearly 500 pounds less than the TR20 but still hauls a 1.3 ton payload. Combine that 500 pound diet with a more aerodynamic cab and suddenly 30 mpg becomes a more attainable reality once again. Could this be what John Perez is talking about?

Of course this is all Mahindra Planet’s famous speculation. But when things begin to add up, shards of reality begin to emerge. It could also just be wishful thinking…

Source: Economic Times, IndianAutosBlog.com, as hyperlinked

Mahindra to Expand US Business after Ssangyong Acquisition

IndianExpress.com is reporting this morning that an undisclosed “senior official” from Mahindra’s Finance and Strategic Development Department has informed them that the US pickup and SUV market is in Mahindra’s crosshairs after the Ssangyong takeover is complete.


Due diligence and planning for the acquisition of the bankrupt South Korean automaker, Ssangyong Motor, began earlier this summer and is projected to be complete by March of 2011, with Mahindra-Ssangyong vehicles being launched in India shortly after.

"We have entered into an agreement with the ailing Ssangyong Motor in August to acquire a majority stake in the South Korean SUV-maker to expand our business in international markets. We are looking at entering the US market, once the deal is through," the article quotes the anonymous Mahindra official.

The official goes on to restate the obvious, "When the global presence of Mahindra and Ssangyong is combined, jointly we will be able to achieve more success in the global market."

No other sources are currently verifying these statements, but they do correspond with speculation provided by the president of Mahindra’s punching bag/US distributor, Global Vehicles USA. John Perez claimed in a letter to customers two weeks ago that Mahindra pickups will be available in the US sometime in the spring. The saga continues.

Source: IndianExpress.com, CarTradeIndia.com, PickupTrucks.com

Mahindra to Build Vehicle Plant in TN, Not the TN You Are Thinking

Indian news outlets are reporting this morning that Mahindra & Mahindra has made an agreement with the Indian state of Tamil Nadu to acquire 400 acres of land to build a new vehicle manufacturing plant to keep up with increasing domestic demand.

It is unclear which product line(s) will be built at the new facility, but it is expected that Mahindra’s total annual vehicle output in Tamil Nadu will increase from 1.3 million to 1.4 million once the plant is up and running. The new plant will be located somewhere near the city of Chennai which is home to many other Mahindra operations. Chennai is the auto manufacturing hub of India.

Reports indicate that the new factory is intended to increase domestic supply of vehicles for India. Mahindra fans in the US will be hopeful that the facility, and increased capacity, will lead to the fulfillment of John Perez’s bold statements made in an email sent to waiting Mahindra truck buyers last week which said “While I cannot give you a firm answer on timing, I can tell you in my estimation, trucks will arrive in the spring of 2011.”

Sources: PickupTrucks.com, Automotive World

Mahindra Delay Excuses Don't Set Well With Importer

Mahindra importer, Global Vehicles USA (GV), has quickly responded to Mahindra’s statements that the US launch of their India-built line of compact diesel pickup trucks has been delayed indefinitely due to ongoing conflict with the Georgia-based company.


“Mahindra is legally – and morally – obligated to conduct business as usual” – John Perez, CEO, Global Vehicles

Perez refers to an arbitration clause which was part of the original contract between Global Vehicles and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd to establish GV as the exclusive distributor of Mahindra vehicles in the United States. The contract between the two parties expired on June 11, 2010. On that same day, GV invoked an arbitration clause placed in the distributor agreement. That clause requires both companies to conduct ‘business as usual’ in order to fulfill their commitment in supplying Mahindra pickups to nearly 350 dealers which have been waiting over 2 years for products to sell.

While engaged in a federal lawsuit filed against them by GV and the binding arbitration process being conducted in the UK, Mahindra continues to publicly dismiss GV as exclusive distributor of their vehicles, and now are blaming further delays on these actions.

"Any suggestion that the arbitration process or the federal lawsuit we were forced to file to protect our rights are responsible for the delay in bringing trucks to the United States is patently not true. If Mahindra's trucks are ready to sell, they should continue performing their obligations under the distributor agreement just like we have. If dealers start to doubt Mahindra's integrity, they don't stand a chance of earning the trust of American consumers." – John Perez

Source: Global Vehicles via PRNewsWire

GV Responds to Rejection of Mahindra Pickup Order

From the press release issued yesterday:


ALPHARETTA, Ga., Sept. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Indian company Mahindra and Mahindra has improperly rejected a valid $35 million-plus factory order placed on Sept. 24 for U.S.-spec Mahindra pickup trucks, exclusive U.S. distributor Global Vehicles U.S.A., Inc. confirmed today.

"Global Vehicles and its dealers remain willing, ready and able to begin the sale of Mahindra vehicles as soon as they can be delivered," said Global Vehicles CEO John Perez. "We placed this substantial order in good faith because we want to get down to business and so do our dealers."

Mahindra issued a statement in India yesterday confirming that it rejected the order. But the company has not explained its motives for breaking the contract, especially its arbitration clause.

"Our contract with Mahindra requires disputes to be taken to arbitration and both parties are obligated to conduct 'business as usual' until there is a ruling," said Perez. "We initiated arbitration before Mahindra claims the contract expired and they should not disrespect the process and break the law by continuing to act in bad faith."

In addition to initiating arbitration, Global Vehicles is pursuing claims against Mahindra in U.S. Federal District Court to protect is contractual rights.

"We're grateful that this country has strong contract laws and statutes that protect big car companies from steamrolling their dealers and distributors," Perez said. "We're confident in our position because it's simple and it's the truth, and we look forward to hearing Mahindra's sworn testimony."

Global Vehicles believes that Mahindra purposely delayed the EPA certification process so it could invoke a contract clause that would allow it to walk away if the trucks could not be certified for sale in the United States. Global Vehicles extended the deadline for certification three times, with the latest deadline set at June 11, 2010.

Mahindra submitted its certification paperwork to the EPA about 10 days after the June 11 deadline, and announced in an Aug. 20 press release that its vehicles were certified for sale.

Mahindra demanded the clause at the eleventh hour before the contract was signed in 2006 because it expressly wanted to limit its losses if the trucks could not be certified for sale here. Earlier this year, well before the June deadline, Global Vehicles asked Mahindra to remove the clause because it was no longer applicable and they refused. Global Vehicles later asked Mahindra for another extension but was again refused.

Together, Global Vehicles and the nearly 350 Mahindra dealers it recruited in 49 states have invested almost $100 million to bring the rugged, affordable and fuel-efficient trucks to the United States.

Global Vehicles U.S.A., Inc., based in Alpharetta, Ga., is the exclusive importer and distributor in the United States of motor vehicles produced by the automotive arm of the Mahindra Group (www.mahindra.com), a $6 billion-plus diverse conglomerate.

SOURCE Global Vehicles U.S.A., Inc.

In the End, It’s All About the Truck

Indian conglomerate Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd has made it clear that they no longer consider US-based importer Global Vehicles (GV) as a business partner, and have spent the last four months trying to sever their once amicable relationship with them. Recently, Global Vehicles’ CEO John Perez has spoken out, and has made it clear that he feels that Mahindra has abused elements of a contract which were negotiated in good faith. This all takes place while dealers look on and wonder if they will be speaking with Alpharetta or Mumbai once the dust has settled over this battle to sell the first India-made vehicle in the US.


Side with one company or the other if you will, but it all comes back to the truck. It may not be an earth-shattering vehicle. Maybe it’s not even worth fighting for, but without a doubt, it is a groundbreaking truck on many levels.

The recurring rally cry heard from nearly all of the Mahindra pickup lovers and haters out there is that the US market is primed and ready for a fuel-efficient, straight forward, reasonably priced, compact-to-midsize, diesel pickup truck.

After reading countless article comments and forum threads over the past three years, it has become crystal clear that Americans are ready for this product. It becomes equally clear that while there are plenty of fans dedicated to the Mahindra TR20 and TR40 pickups, there are many more consumers that do not care which manufacturer produces this type of vehicle. They just want the compact diesel pickup concept to become a tangible reality so that they can put their money down on it as soon as possible.

The he-said/she-said reports from both sides are likely to be silent for a while. Today, arbitration between Global Vehicles and Mahindra & Mahindra begins in International Court in London (per the original 2006 agreement). No matter how the arbitration is resolved; America has spoken, and we are ready for a new breed of small pickup trucks.

We want your truck, Mahindra. And we want Global Vehicles to supply reliable US-based support. But keep in mind that if you don’t make this truck happen soon, one of your established competitors surely will.

Global Vehicles John Perez Responds to Lack of EPA Application

Posted today on Mahindra Truck Forum, GV president John Perez, spoke via telephone with the forum’s administrator, Andy Isaacson, to discuss and respond to the PickupTrucks.com article revealing that Mahindra had not yet applied for EPA certification required to sell the Indian-built pickup trucks in the US. All responses on various subjects are quoted from the forum post.

EPA certification
“Just got off the phone with John Perez, the president of Global Vehicles. It was a good conversation. He re-affirmed that they are not delayed from their mid to late spring release. The EPA Certification is the last thing on the list after all the testing and hard work has been done. He said that there are Mahindra pickups all over the US, testing, testing, testing in every condition possible. That has been the reason for some of the delays because Mahindra wants to make sure that nothing goes wrong when they actually sell them here. EPA Certification is just around the corner which means that so are the trucks.”

Warranty and Pricing
“As far as warranty goes, that is still not 100% decided. As far as pricing goes, they are expecting that they will not make any money on the sales of the initial Indian made Mahindra trucks due to the chicken tax. However, wether made in India or the US, they plan on pricing the vehicle to be as affordable as possible to the consumer. It does not sound like they are planning a sudden price drop on the US made ones.”

Parts Supply to the US
“For parts, Mahindra will be using a separate company that specializes in parts distribution that already has warehouses all over the US. It's what this company does best and they will be able to get parts to the dealers quickly.”

Dealer Service
“Similar to the parts, the tech training will also be handled by a separate company that specializes in training technicians all over the US.”

The complete post can be found here: Mahindra Truck Forum: EPA Certification

Breaking: Mahindra Dealer Update Video!

UPDATE 24-DEC-2009: Unfortunately, not long after the Mahindra dealer video link leaked out, GV-USA disabled it. Probably the fastest movement by GV-USA we've ever seen. We have no idea why it was pulled, because Mahindra Planet feels this was a great piece of communication not only to the dealers, but to fans of the brand. Our summary is below, and we also recommend going to PickupTrucks.com for Mike Levine's post: http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2009/12/mahindras-us-distributor-says-first-trucks-on-sale-by-spring.html More info as we get it...

“I know this has been a test of your patience and also mine…” John Perez, CEO of Global Vehicles USA Inc.

A link to a dealer video was submitted in our comments section today by an anonymous source. The link appears to be for dealer-eyes only, but it sure seems to go a long way in placating rabid Mahindra truck fans.

Here is the link: http://www.mahindrana.com/videoceodec2009.php

A few details of the video include:
- The vehicles will be here in the middle of spring.
- Dealers will be contacted directly by GV-USA on a weekly basis beginning in January
- GV-USA promises 24-hour turnaround on parts supply
- All US certification will be complete by the end of January

Source: Thank You, Anonymous!

US Mahindra TR Pickup Available in February 2010

In an unaccredited post, MahindraNC’s fine blog reaffirms previous statements made by John Perez, CEO of GV USA (Mahindra’s US importer) that Mahindra trucks will be “delivered to dealers in calendar year 2009”, but full-scale US sales will commence in the 1st quarter of 2010.

The MahindraNC post quotes Mahindra & Mahindra Automotive Sector President, Pawan Goenka, as saying “We will start production of Mahindra ‘Pik-up’ utility vehicle by December this year for the US, and by end-February next year, the vehicle will be sold there (in the US).”

Delays of the Mahindra US launch have been well documented in the automotive media. Understandably so, given the current global economic crisis, and general difficulty in bringing any new vehicle into the United States. It is also likely that Mahindra wants to ensure that the US-bound vehicles will meet the expectations of US customers who will require a high level of quality right from the start.

Source: MahindraNC Blog

Mahindra & Mahindra: Cruising the Indian Cityscape in the Scorpio SUV

New York Times Editor, Nick Kurczewski, travled to Mumbai for a drive in the domestic version of the Mahindra Scorpio SUV. The article was posted on the Mahindra North America official website a few weeks ago, but it’s worth a look if you haven’t seen it before.

Kurczewski relays his experience on how the Scorpio worked around the streets of India’s densely populated capital city. He also speaks with Global Vehicles (the official US importer) John Perez and gets some insight into Mahindra’s thoughts on the US market and how they are positioning themselves with their unique vehicles to create a niche and prosper in a global economic downturn.

The article is light on an actual performance evaluation, but it’s a nice piece on Mahindra and the potential of the brand in the US. Obviously, MahindraPlanet thinks there is a place for a heavy duty small truck that gets 30mpg. We are eagerly awaiting our TR test drive on US soil!

NYT article link: Mahindra Says Wait and See

Photo: via New York Times