M&M Open to Using Ssangyong Engines in Mahindra Vehicles

Ssangyong Rexton (courtesy AsianCarsBlog.com)

Pawan Goenka, President Automotive and Farm Sectors, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, has recently stated that Mahindra could possibly install more powerful engines in its vehicles from recently acquired Ssangyong Motor Company (SYMC).

Ssangyong produces its own engines using technology and designs licensed from Mercedes-Benz.  In fact, the Ssangyong Rexton CUV is effectively a Mercedes M-Class with a body styled by Italdesign and built in South Korea.

Mahindra plans to introduce the Ssangyong Rexton and Korando C models in India this year.  Their plan has been to import complete knock down kits (CKD) from South Korea and assemble complete vehicles in their Indian factory.  Recent changes to Indian import regulations concerning the definition of CKD kits, may force Mahindra to build Ssangyong engines on Indian soil in addition to assembling the complete vehicles.  

Korando C (courtesy Gradiliste.com)

Goenka was recently asked by BSMotoring.com if the CKD definition change would force Mahindra to consider using Mahindra engines in Ssangyong vehicles for the India market.

“These products are of a higher horse power (bhp) category. Both Rexton and Korando C use a 175 bhp engine. We don't have an engine of that category. If these products using M&M engines, which is 120 bhp, they would be underpowered. So, it is very unlikely that we would consider a Mahindra engine for an SYMC product. However, the option of using SYMC engines in our products is certainly available to us. If we feel some SsangYong products need engines with lower horse power, M&M engines are easily available.” Pawan Goenka

Despite ongoing setbacks in Mahindra’s attempt to enter the US market with diesel pickups and SUVs, Mahindra’s consideration in using alternative or more powerful engines sourced from its complete corporate catalog could be an asset.  

The US government sees Mahindra pickups as an imported vehicle.  They are not going care if the engine in an Indian built vehicle comes from India or South Korea, as long as it meets safety and emissions criteria (they potentially face the Chicken Tax either way).  Using the more powerful (and possibly more readily EPA compliant) SYMC engines could be a benefit to US Mahindra pickups if/when they arrive here.

Source: BSMotoring

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

US Mahindra-Navistar Alliance: A Possibility

Hope is fading fast for a timely resolution to the battle for distribution rights to sell the first Indian made pickup trucks in America.
Over the last six months, Americans anticipating the launch of Mahindra’s TR20 and TR40 diesel pickups have instead witnessed a war of words played out in US courts, UK arbitration, and scalding press releases. The conflict between US based distributor, Global Vehicles USA (GV), and Indian industrial conglomerate and automaker, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd (Mahindra), has played out like an epic Hollywood divorce.

The occasional glimmer of hope that Mahindra and GV could resolve their differences and bring TR pickups to market have regularly led to solemn disappointment for hopeful customers. The resulting rollercoaster ride has left some potential buyers barfing at the exit and others running to get back in line for another ride.

Recent statements by Pawan Goenka, automotive sector president of Mahindra & Mahindra, pours more fuel on the fire:

"There is always the possibility of having an alliance with Navistar in the US as we have an alliance with them in India already, but nothing has been finalized yet,”

Sentiment in the Indian press indicates that Mahindra does not have any interest in continuing it’s partnership with GV no matter how the legal battle ends. Mahindra officials refuse to comment on the lawsuit, and little word has made its way out of GV’s Alpharetta, Georgia headquarters in months.

Although Mahindra seems bent on bypassing the company who laid much of the groundwork for their US automobile entry (GV), they have consistently stated that they see the US as a key strategic market for their brand. Judging by their acquisition of Korean automaker, Ssangyong Motor, and the development of more worldly vehicles like the W201 SUV, Mahindra is on track for launching US products… some day.

Source: Business Standard

India Parts Shortages Continue: Does Mahindra Launch Hang in the Balance?

“At least for the next three to four months, the problems won’t get resolved.” – Pawan Goenka, President of Automotive and Tractor Operations, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd (referring to widespread parts supply shortages in the Indian auto industry).


The doubling of per capita income in India over the last eight years has resulted in ever increasing demand for new cars. 2010 has witnessed a 30% increase in demand for new vehicles, with companies like Suzuki and VW resorting to waiting lists for prospective customers. Suzuki is claiming that they have a backlog equivalent to 15-20% of monthly sales volume.

At the dawn of the global economic meltdown, many Indian OEM suppliers conservatively curbed their growth in fear of reduced demand for parts. Combine the unprecedented increase in consumer demand with the overly cautious manufacturing approach that suppliers took in 2009, and the result is serious challenge for manufacturers unable to provide every customer with one of their vehicles.

Mahindra has operated under capacity since the end of 2009 when they began seeing vehicle demand increase, and realized that suppliers weren’t keeping up. In June alone, Mahindra saw an 8-10% loss of production due to parts shortages.

Mahindra still has at least a three to four month scramble ahead of them just to satisfy their own domestic demand for new SUV’s and pickups. It is unclear how this will affect the expected December launch of US compact diesel pickups (the TR20 and TR40).

If Mahindra were to begin diverting Indian (and other markets) parts and production to US market vehicles in order to meet their proclaimed December due date, they could potentially lose domestic sales to competitors by doing so. Mahindra may have to make a tough decision about which market is more important to them and which one they are willing to make sacrifices for; the thriving Indian market, or the unknown (but prestigious) US market.

Sources: LiveMint (WSJ), Bloomberg, Mahindra Planet, & Mahindra Planet

Ssangyong, Nebraska, and Flying Pigs

Ssangyong Motors

Rumor is that Mahindra is prepared to bid $400 million on the barely breathing South Korean automaker, Ssangyong Motors. MP has detailed some of Mahindra’s justification for interest in Ssangyong, including expanding their current range of vehicles: Korean Pickups

“We want to buy it for the world market. We can’t justify buying it only for the Indian market.” - Pawan Goenka, President Automotive Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra

Ssangyong would give Mahindra a turn key line of sedans, SUV’s and additional diesel technology. In some ways the Ssangyong products could be considered a more sophisticated, and a worldlier lineup than the current Mahindra portfolio.

Nebraska Dealers
MP received an anonymous tip about three potential Mahindra dealerships in Nebraska. Two of which are former (and relatively new) Saturn stores run by Dennis Schworer in the Lincoln and Bellevue/Omaha areas. The third dealership may be in the smaller town of Norfork.

The tipster also pointed out that the Bellevue/Omaha dealership is in close proximity to Offutt Air Force Base and suggested that many of the people employed there certainly would’ve had some exposure to diesel vehicles in Europe and Asia. Nebraska has been added to the Dealer Directory.

Thanks, JJ.

New Poll
Check out the new poll on the right sidebar. This is your chance to say what you think about the ethereal vapor which currently is the TR20 and TR40 pickups.

Sources: Wall Street Journal, Reuters, and as hyperlinked

US Version of Mahindra-Reva NXR Electric Car Spied; 2011 Launch Likely

Our friends at Indian Autos Blog recently posted photos showing a left-hand drive version of Mahindra’s all-electric Reva NXR seen testing in India. The NXR shown could likely be a US market test mule.

Reva Electric Car Company, recently acquired by Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd (and renamed Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicle Company), has been working with US-based Bannon Automotive to establish manufacturing and sales of the NXR and other Reva models on US soil in the very near future.

Indian Autos Blog also reports that the highway speed capable Reva NXR (replacing the current Reva City model in India) will be available to Indian customers in the fourth quarter of 2011. Previous reports have suggested that the all-electric NXR model could be available in other markets (including the US) much sooner than that.

“A lot of work is going on at the moment and the launch of the new Reva NXR and NXG should be by Q4 of 2011.” – Pawan Goenka, Chairman, Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicle Company

A former plastics factory in Lysander, New York (Syracuse area) has been selected as the site to assemble complete knock down (CKD) kits of Reva car models. Each CKD will include all components necessary to build a complete car. CKD kits will be shipped from India to the Central New York operation, which will fully assemble and deliver completed cars to dealers around the country.

Although there have been no recent reports on the status of the Lysander manufacturing facility, Bannon Automotive has been working with politicians at the state and federal levels to obtain all necessary funding to break ground. It is anticipated that work on the facility will begin this fall, with manufacturing to commence sometime in 2011.

Source: India Autos Blog (click hyperlinks for specific articles), Syracuse.com
Photos: IndiaAutosBlog.com, RevaCars.com

Mahindra to Invest $1.8 Billion in Capital Expenditures

In continuation of yesterday’s news of Mahindra’s impressive 40% gain in net profit for the first fiscal quarter of 2010, Mahindra has also announced that they will be making a USD $1.8 billion capital investment over the next five years for various purposes.


"We have earmarked around Rs 8,600 crore (USD $1.8 billion) for the next five years. Out this, Rs 5,600 crore (USD $1.2 billion) will be for the Chakan plant," – Pawan Goenka, President Automotive and Farm Equipment, Mahindra & Mahindra

In January, Goenka announced that Mahindra’s Chakan plant (which builds light trucks and SUVs) would receive USD $1 billion in capex (Mahindra Scorpio Platform Replacement Moving Forward). It appears that another USD $200 million will be added to this investment. It is unclear where the remainder of the investment is going.

The question begs to be asked: Will any of this have an effect on the US launch of Mahindra pickups and SUVs?

Source: Economic Times

Global Vehicles Responds to Mahindra’s Further Delay Comments

Global Vehicles USA, exclusive US importer for Mahindra vehicles, has issued a press release this afternoon regarding comments made by Mahindra & Mahindra president, automotive sector, Pawan Goenka regarding further launch delays of the India-built pickups.


The press release reads:
“ALPHARETTA, GA., July 8, 2010-It has been recently reported in the media Mahindra is claiming its pending litigation with Global Vehicles may delay the introduction of its vehicles to the United States market. This claim is both inaccurate and unfortunate. Indeed, in the litigation Global Vehicles seeks to compel Mahindra to honor its contractual obligations to obtain homologation of the vehicles and to begin shipping them pursuant to existing and long standing orders placed by Global Vehicles on behalf of its many dealers. Global Vehicles was constrained to take legal action as a result of Mahindra’s unjustifiable delay in making its vehicles available and to otherwise protect Global Vehicles’ dealers who have waited long enough for product. Global Vehicles and its dealers stand ready, willing and able to immediately begin selling Mahindra vehicles in the United States. All Mahindra needs to do is complete homologation and start delivering them. Thus any delay in entering the United States market rests exclusively with Mahindra and can in no way be attributable to the litigation or any actions of Global Vehicles.”

Global Vehicle’s statement lobs the ball back into Mahindra’s court. MP will continue to follow each volley.

Source: Global Vehicles

Breaking: US Mahindra Entry Depends On Lawsuit Outcome

"We are going as per (our) original plan for the launch of the pick-up truck in the US, but can't say on the actual time of launch, as it will depend on the outcome of the litigation," - Mahindra & Mahindra President (Automotive and Farm Equipment) Pawan Goenka


According to NDTV Profit, Mahindra is no longer committing to a December 2010 launch date for US pickup trucks. With an actual launch hinging on a lawsuit (filed by US importer, Global Vehicles) that Mahindra has previously claimed has “groundless”, US fans of the India-made, mid-size diesel pickups could find delivery postponed indefinitely.

Click here to read the article: Our US entry depends on outcome of lawsuit: M&M

Mahindra Launch: Getting It Right

“It’s more important to get the launch right the first time rather than get hung up on a date. The launch in the U.S.A is a very significant step. It will give us only one chance.” – Pawan Goenka, President Automotive Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra


Nick Kurczewski interviewed Goenka last week for The New York Times. Although Goenka is still very non committal in his statements, he is “fairly confident” that the December launch date will happen. However, he does stress that the approach to the US market is far more important than the actual timing.

Kurczewski did confirm once again with Mahindra and US importer, Global Vehicles, that all EPA and crash tests are complete. All government approvals should be in place by the end of June, and production of the US-bound TR20 and TR40 pickups should begin in September of this year. This is a lot of “should”.

According to Goenka, Mahindra expects that the US market to grow again in 2011. This positive outlook is paired with Mahindra’s expectations of gaining 5-7% of the US market share with their compact diesel pickups. Mahindra still plans to introduce the Scorpio SUV (which shares it’s chassis with the TR20 and TR40) later in the year, and will eventually launch an all-new global luxury SUV currently code named W201 in the US.

Pricing for the TR20 and TR40 has still not been set. Goenka tells Kurczewski that a final retail price will not be established until the day before the trucks are launched. Curiously, this sounds as though dealers may not even know how much the trucks are going to sell for until after they actually have them on their lots.

Although this information does little to placate torch-carrying US Mahindra fans, an additional positive piece of news from the article is that Mahindra is actively working to establish a US assembly facility. Goenka indicates that Mahindra hopes to begin assembling vehicles in the United States six to eight months after sales begin.

The entire NYT article is HERE

Source: The New York Times

Breaking: US Mahindra Pickups to Arrive in December!

From WSJ a few minutes ago:

“Pawan Goenka, president of Mahindra's auto and farm-equipment operations, said in an interview that the new truck model has been road-tested according to U.S. government requirements and that the company expects to gain certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency no later than July. Production would begin in India in early fall and the truck would arrive in U.S. showrooms by December, Mr. Goenka said.

The truck doesn't yet have a name, but is likely to be called TR20 and TR40, depending on the model. "Since we're new, we want to emphasize that the truck is just Mahindra," Mr. Goenka said. The company has built 175 prototypes in India and tested 30 in the U.S.”

The article goes on to say that 175 US TR prototypes have been built, and discusses a timeline for the SUV (2011) and a gas-electric hybrid option (2013)

Follow the link to the WSJ article: HERE

Mahindra: Exporting Pickups to US by Mid-2010

Update: I have been made aware that the Wheels Unplugged article referenced in this post may contain altered quotes on US arrival times from PN Shah. I have removed this quote. The rest of the article recycles previous quotes and information.  Nothing new here.  I apologize to my readers.

Wheels Unplugged reports this morning:

“We are fully ready with the product (customized for the US market) and even the US manufacturing facility (in India). We are waiting for some regulatory approvals to launch the Scorpio in the US in this quarter” – Pawan Goenka, president, Automotive Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra

Iowa-based dealer, D&D Mahindra, confirmed Tuesday on Mahindra Truck Forum that they were told that Mahindra’s US test fleet (25 pickups) have not completed enough test miles to meet the EPA data requirements. The vehicles currently in testing have on average, 70,000 miles, and require 100,000 miles on the clocks before final data may be submitted and approval given.

Wheels Unplugged also reaffirms this morning that Mahindra has no immediate plans to assemble TR20 and TR40 pickups in the United States. Previous reports have also been clear that Mahindra will test the US-market waters before committing to US assembly, but they have been looking for suitable facilities.

Mahindra Launch Delays: Is 2010 Too Soon?

Automotive News published a fantastic report by Lindsay Chappell on the state of Mahindra’s US vehicle launch on Monday. It has subsequently been hacked by the blogosphere into disjointed, bite-sized chunks of reconstituted “news”. We’re not going to do any further disservice to AN here, so please click this link, read the article in its entirety, then finish reading this Mahindra Planet commentary. Automotive News: Mahindra Dealers are Still Waiting


Missed Dates
Although AN was unable to contact Pawan Goenka for a comment on the delays for their article, Mahindra Truck Forum member, Joe Callimachus was able to directly contact Goenka by email late last week. His letter follows:

Pawan,

On March 4th you told Reuters that Mahindra would be announcing the times for the US launch of the Mahindra Pickups, TR20 and TR40, in 2-3 weeks. It's officially three weeks today.

I really need to decide on buying a new pickup and the TR20 is exactly what I want. But I can’t keep waiting forever. My F250 is literally falling apart. I just had to take one of the fuel tanks off ‘cause it rotted away.

I would like to know if you are going to get the EPA certification and start production of these trucks soon. If not I will have to start looking at other trucks that I really don't want.

Yours truly,
Joe Callimachus

Goenka responded to Callimachus’ letter with the following:

Joe,

Thank you for your interest in the Mahindra Pickups. It is very encouraging to note that there are customers waiting to purchase these vehicles. Unfortunately we are not in a position to announce a definitive date as we are still waiting for the homologation process to be completed. Only after the process is completed can we give a firm date. Hope you are able to wait for the vehicle.

Regards,
Pawna Goenka
President (Automotive Sector) Mahindra and Mahindra

Obviously, Goenka is very noncommittal at this point, as is Global Vehicles. This only reaffirms contact that Mahindra Planet has had with GV and franchised dealers. All news and timelines on the launch have been driven by India since the start of 2010. Global Vehicles has taken a stealthy approach to PR and media, only passing on information as they get it, and not offering much more. It’s better to keep quiet, than to keep pissing on the customers’ Cheerios.

Feeling the Love/Hate
The overall feeling among dealers and fans is positive about Mahindra products, and most are confident that Mahindra will be a great success… once they get here. Some of the web media seems to perpetuate the gloom and doom of missed launch dates and lack of information (not that we haven’t done it either).

Whatever. That’s old news, so get over it. Part of Mahindra’s (and GV’s) charm is that they are so excited about, and emotionally invested in, their product that they tend to be overly optimistic on announcements and timelines. Does it hurt their credibility? Possibly. But then, would you rather be known for multiple missed launch dates, or for selling a crappy product that falls apart, or possibly accelerates your customers into oblivion, or worse?

Tensions Are High
Clearly there are strained relations between GV and Mahindra. GV finds themselves precariously hanging onto millions of dollars in franchise money from dealers who are spending even more money to pepper the country with proper sales shrines for Mahindra vehicles (insert your own Taj Mahal quip here). In return, Mahindra will not commit to a go date.

We’ve Waited This Long
Between supplier issues in India, the complexities of making a new vehicle ready for the road in the United States, and the development of new world-market platforms, there certainly could be concern that even a summer of 2010 launch may not be a possibility. Mahindra Planet has previously questioned some of the logic in actually launching the current first generation Scorpio platform (TR20 and TR40) in the US when the second generation vehicle looms large on the horizon.

Keep in mind that the truck Mahindra is trying to launch here is new to us, but was first introduced to India in 2002. Aside from the arguably relevant and truly geriatric Ford Ranger, eight years is ancient history for any unchanged vehicle platform for sale in the US.

From the AN article:

Speaking with Automotive News last year, Goenka said Mahindra's entry into the United States was important -- but not the company's most important current project. He said only about 6 or 7 percent of Mahindra's total global engineering force of 1,000 was working on the U.S. entry.

"We also have three new vehicle platforms we're working on right now and just completed a fourth," Goenka said. He said that entering the United States would cost half as much as developing a new vehicle platform.

More important, he said, was doing it correctly: "A launch date is very important to us, but not as important as getting our product right."

At this point, would it make more sense to redirect the efforts of those engineers working on Americanized pickup design projects and ensure that the next generation trucks are inherently designed with the US-market in mind?

If Mahindra were to scrap plans to bring the current generation TR20 and TR40 to the US, do a post-mortem on everything they have learned about developing a US vehicle, and use that knowledge in making a solid effort with a brand new truck, would they lose any more face than they already have? Again, we’ve waited this long for Mahindra, what are another few months or even another year going to matter.

Go ask your neighbor if they plan to buy a new Mahindra this year. Unless they are highly aware of auto industry news, a farmer, or possibly Indian-American, they probably won’t have a clue what you are talking about. It’s easy for all of us closely involved in Mahindra goings-on to assume that everyone in the country is on the edge of their seat waiting for these trucks. In reality, if Mahindra were to wait until 2011 to launch an all new truck, most Americans would be none the wiser, but maybe all of us hardcore fans would reap benefits worthy of our patience.

Mahindra Pickup US Launch to be Announced in Early April

Transport Topics Online reported yesterday that that Mahindra will make an announcement on the official US launch of the Indian-built TR20 and TR40 pickups in early April.

The article states that the vehicles are currently undergoing testing in the US per Pawan Goenka, president, automotive sector, M&M.

The diesel pickups have been delayed several times in the past year. Previously Mahindra anticipated a first quarter launch, but it appears that will be pushed further out.

Source: Transport Topics Online (via Bloomberg)

Mahindra Inaugurates Chakan Facility, Will Produce US Trucks

Saturday, (March 13, 2010) Mahindra opened the doors to their recently upgraded Chakan facility in India. Mahindra Planet reported in January that this facility was receiving USD $1 billion in capital improvements. Of that $1 billion, $150 million is to be dedicated to the next generation Scorpio SUV platform. The new Scorpio will be of unitized construction and has been designated for US launch in late 2010.

The new and improved facility will produce a wide range of vehicles from the ¾ ton Maxximo mini trucks to heavy duty Mahindra-Navistar trucks, in addition to US-bound vehicles.

“We will manufacture all new products here, including the range that will be exported to the US.” – Pawan Goenka, President, Automotive Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra

The future for US built Mahindra vehicles still remains unclear at this point, but it does appear that at least the new Scorpio will be built in India and exported for sale in the United States.

Sources: Mahindra Navistar’s Blog and WSJ

Mahindra to Announce US Launch Timeframe in 2-3 Weeks

Moneycontrol.com reports from India this morning that a top official (we assume in India) tells them that Mahindra will make an announcement on the US launch of Mahindra TR20 and TR40 pickups in 2 or 3 weeks.

No source for the information is sighted, but the article does contain quotes from Pawan Goenka on the US emissions certification process and delays (apparently from a previous interview).

For the complete article: Mahindra to set date on US launch in 2-3 weeks

Mahindra to Launch Seven Vehicle Variations in 2010

Mahindra & Mahindra President, Automotive Sector, Pawan Goenka was quoted in today’s WheelsUnplugged on what’s in store for 2010-11:

“Next fiscal we will be launching 6-7 new variants of our existing models. The
new variants will cover all segments including utility vehicles, commercial
vehicles, and three wheelers.” – Pawan Goenka

The variants mentioned are likely a mix of domestic and export models. However, it is certain that two of the models will be the highly anticipated Mahindra TR20 and TR40 pickups bound for the US market by April, 2010. A third model will be a heavily re-engineered version of the Mahindra Scorpio SUV for the US market, launching in late 2010 and followed by an all-new SUV in 2011.

Source: WheelsUnplugged.com

From 2008: MahindraPlanet Predicts Springfield, Ohio Assembly for Mahindra Trucks

In October of 2008, MahindraPlanet theorized that Mahindra’s connections with Navistar, International Truck and Engine Corporation, could easily lead to an assembly or manufacturing partnership on American soil. Pawan Goenka’s comments last week that Navistar facilities will be the first considered for US truck assembly confirmed the possibility of this prediction.

The post takes the manufacturing prediction one step further, and dreams of a reinvented, modern interpretation of the International Scout based on the Mahindra TR chassis and powertrain. With International’s light truck non-compete agreement with Ford likely null and void, the door is open for a line of pickups and SUV’s with International branding to ride the currently popular retro-styling wave.

Click here to read: Is This the Next International Scout?

Scout Images: http://www.adclassix.com/ and http://www.dieselpowermag.com/

Mahindra to Launch TR20 & TR40 in March and Deliver in April, US Assembly in Future

The Wall Street Journal reports this morning that Mahindra will first consider Navistar (International Truck and Engine Corporation) facilities first when they begin looking for an assembly location in the United States. A decision on a plant location will be considered around December of 2010, according to Mahindra & Mahindra President, Automotive Sector, Pawan Goenka.

Goenka goes on to say that Mahindra plans to launch the TR20 and TR40 pickups in March of 2010, with vehicle deliveries to start in the April-June quarter.

US vehicle manufacturing will be done on a contract basis with minimal investment in US-based infrastructure for Mahindra. Goenka also mentions that the new SUV platform being developed will be positioned above the current Scorpio model. No timelines are given for US arrival of SUV models.

To read the complete article, go to: Mahindra May Use Navistar Plant to Make Scorpio Pickup

Source: WSJ

Mahindra Scorpio Platform Replacement Moving Forward

The Economic Times reports that Mahindra & Mahindra’s plans for an all-new global SUV platform to be built in India, and marketed internationally is moving forward.

“We are developing a new SUV platform, which will replace Scorpio. This platform will be compatible with the markets abroad and will be exported from India.” - Mahindra & Mahindra President, Automotive Sector, Pawan Goenka

Mahindra plans to invest upwards of USD $150 million into the project. This is part of a total investment of USD $1 billion in capital expenditures for Mahindra’s Chakan plant.

The Scorpio platform is the common chassis used for the (soon-to-be) US-market TR20 and TR40 pickups, as well as the current Scorpio SUV marketed elsewhere. The article does not indicate whether or not future plans include some level of vehicle assembly in the United States.

The article in its entirety: Mahindra Plans Scorpio Successor

Source: The Economic Times