Indian Company to Import or Build Pickup Stateside?

DOWNSHIFTER. January 28th, 2008 10:07 AM Link

Why bother?

Texan_as_well January 28th, 2008 10:25 AM Link

Is there a crew cab model?

Abdul Sachedina January 28th, 2008 10:53 AM Link

Perfect Timing. O7 Ranger’s lease ends in 09. If there’s four doors and a diesel engine I’m in. I wonder if Jeep will take them to court over the Seven Slot Grill?

06YellowGT January 28th, 2008 12:48 PM Link

wow, that’s ugly.

hwyhobo January 28th, 2008 1:29 PM Link

Good looking truck. If there is enough room for a tall driver, and if that diesel really is economical, who knows. Does Mahindra have a track record for reliability somewhere outside of India?

Russ Bellinis January 28th, 2008 1:47 PM Link

I wonder about the prupose of small trucks. Generally the cabs are very cramped. They are useful for commercial purposes if the need is for a small pick up with very limited payload, but I think that is a small niche market. For people who are looking for a second car that can get decent economy and occasionally haul a load, I think a small car or compact suv with a trailer hitch and small utility trailer is a more practical solution. The availability of the diesel engine may appeal to those wanting diesel power, but I haven’t seen any big rush to diesel power in smaller vehicles in the US yet.

Russ Bellinis January 28th, 2008 1:52 PM Link

Abdul, I forgot to mention that the question of any lawsuit over the seven slot grille has already been settled. GM sued Chrysler a few years ago claiming that Jeep’s seven slot grille infringed on Hummer styling. GM lost when the court ruled that cars have had grilles since they put the radiators in front, and the way the bars are arrainged, is so limited that virtually any arraingement of slots in the grille has been done before by someone else, hence no copyright allowed.

Abdul Sachedina January 28th, 2008 4:20 PM Link

Russ, I think it was the other way around. Chrysler sued GM, because Hummer wanted (for it’s H2) a seven slot grill. This, according to only Chrysler and Jeep, was a copyright enfringement on the part of GM. You are right however, the courts did settle on the side of GM.

imoore January 29th, 2008 4:33 PM Link

From what I know, there is a crew cab model that will be sold as the sports edition, and the cab is pretty tall, so tall people shuld have no problem fitting in. These trucks are quite popular in South Africa and Australia. I think Mahindra will build them in the US soon, probably in Georgia. Righ now, I’m waiting for Tata to announce setting up shop here.

Jackson February 7th, 2008 3:44 PM Link

32. I refuse to buy a Mahindra. Why would I want a reliable, high torque, good mileage vehicle. I can go down to any Big 3 today and by a lumbering 50K diesel. I do not have to wait for some company from India to produce a mid-size, multi-use vehicle that offers the latest diesel technology. I can just wait 50 years for the Big 3 to do it.

Honda and Toyota and Nissan tried to sell cars in the US market in the 70’s. Look at them. It never works for these import companies. What is next, Korean cars? Americans need V8’s.

I am not going to work, stand next to the water cooler, then begin to tell some one I bought a new vehicle and it does not have a V8, or two dvd players and no spinners. I would be laughed out of the office.

I need to prove I am a man. When I go to Starbucks I need to know I can tow 5000lbs and carry 1/3 of all my personal belongings with me. That is the kind of vehicle that Mahindra should import if they want me to buy their vehicle.

Winding Road » Archive » Mahindra and Mahindra Eyeing Jeep February 11th, 2008 1:02 PM Link

[…] and Mahindra is looking to expand in the global market, according to India’s Economic Times. The company is actively seeking a partner to aid it in […]