Collateral Damage: Dealers Caught in the Middle of Mahindra Pickup Delays

Been wondering why 350+ Mahindra dealers have been so quiet? BS Motoring posted a great article this morning, interviewing Mike Geylin (GV spokesman) and Larry Neuwirth of Safeway Chevy (http://www.mahindranc.com/). Actually, it’s probably one of the best news articles I have read from an Indian source on the GV/Mahindra lawsuit, and includes the dealers view on the subject. Sounds like the dealers have low confidence in Mahindra’s ability to market and distribute their vehicles in the US themselves without the use of an intermediary like importer, Global Vehicles USA.


The BS Motoring article is here: Court battle puts a hold on M&M pick-ups

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

Mahindra v. Winfield, Part II

Unsurprisingly, Winfield has lost. I could gripe about it, but life is too short. If $6 billion international conglomerate, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, wants to waste time and money shaking down some blogger who’s actually an advocate for them instead of spending time getting product on the ground in the US; well that’s their problem.


If Mahindra had taken a few minutes to contact me, a five minute phone call could’ve saved them however many thousands of dollars their attorneys extracted from them, and saved them some negative publicity. Yes, if Mahindra had called me directly instead of assuming I was out to get them and seek arbitration, I would have given them the domain names they wanted on the spot. Sincerely, it’s their loss.

Mahindra Planet is still here, and staying put as far as I am concerned. Mahindra can do what they feel is right and I‘ll keep doing the same. If this website is shut down next week, you will know what happened. A lesson has been learned from my rapid internet education provided by the University of M&M.

At the end of the day, I still want to see Mahindra get those trucks here. I think they will be a great alternative choice for a lot of potential midsize pickup buyers, and they may even snag some sales that would’ve gone to full-size and compact pickups. Whatever you may think of Mahindra or their vehicles, there are no two ways about it; a rugged, midsize diesel pickup is the right product at the right time.

In spite of the flogging, I look forward to Mahindra’s success and anxiously await the eventual arrival of their pickups in the US.

Click here for Mahindra v. Winfield, Part I