[sajo]

Now, there is news of Scorpios being assembled in Brazil, and will be sold there. No 2.2 for Brazil though.

Read more here.

[Mpower]

No sign of Mahindra at the Detroit Auto Show this year.

[Bimster]

Hope they enter with something better that what they are offering now-a newer version of scorpio may be.They have already appointed some dealers and plan to target rural America with diesels.I dont think ancient looking scorpio would be enough for even that market.

[Harbir]

Originally Posted by sajo

Everybody said the same when Hyundai entered with their Excel in mid-1980s.

20 years later, Hyundai is still regarded as a low market alternative. Hyundai still have to load its cars with features, gadgets, bigger engines, and provide 7 to 10 year warranties to get people to buy their cars.

And this despite the fact that the mid 1980s Excel was not anything like as far behind the mainstream as the Scorpio is today. The Excel was more advanced in most ways in 1986 than the Scorpio is today, so the Scorpio is really very far behind today.

[Nitin]

The Scorpio or any other pick-up truck offered by M&M obviously needs to be introduced with a good number of features,if it plans on selling a fair amount of vehicles in the US.
With the base versions of the Ford Ranger & the Tacoma being priced under $15K, M&M will have to not only price their pick-ups & SUVs in the right segment,they'll have to make huge leaps to be able to attract the regular 'Honda-toyota-Ford-Nissan ' hungry crowd.

[khanak]

Indian automaker Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. will shake up the U.S. truck market next year when it introduces a new midsize pickup called the Appalachian sporting a 2.2L four-cylinder diesel engine producing around 150 horsepower and 300 pound feet of torque. Speaking with Mike Levine from Pickuptruck.com, John Perez, the CEO of Atlanta-based importer Global Vehicles U.S.A. that's aiding Mahindra's entry into the U.S. market, revealed that the truck will deliver 30 to 35 miles per gallon and cost in the mid-$20,000 range. It will be paired with a six-speed automatic that's controlled via a floor-mounted shifter or paddle shifters(!), have a class-leading payload of 2,600 lbs. and feature a 60,000-mile, four year bumper-to-bumper warranty.

If that's not enough to strike fear in domestic and import truck makers alike, Mahindra has also revealed plans to sell a diesel hybrid version of its pickup by 2010. If it happens, the diesel hybrid Appalachian will be, as far as we know, the only diesel hybrid on sale in the U.S. market and achieve fuel economy figures even higher than its diesel-only counterpart. Imagine a midsize pickup in the low-$30,000 price range capable of 40+ mpg.

The Appalachian has yet to go through U.S. certification for emissions and safety, but the company is spending $80 million to ensure its truck passes with no issues. After that, production will begin in India on March 15, 2009, but the trucks will finish assembly at a plant in Ohio to avoid high import taxes. After that, customers can visit a 300-strong dealer network with 24 standalone dealerships, one of which is already under construction.

[Source: Pickuptruck.com]

Source - Mahindra Appalachian diesel pickup arrives in US next year, diesel hybrid version by 2010 - Autoblog

[RROD]

I am not sure, if Mahindra should be launching in the US.
Here if a car is not recieved well in the first go, it will take them a lifetime to gain respect.
case in point Hyundai, where inspite of their ever increasing quality of their cars, they're still struggling to gain respect.
I just hope that mahindra knows what they're getting into.
and this car will be competing against GM who rules the roost when it comes to pick up trucks.
Toyota who is known not to give discounts is giving attractive offers to give a good fight to the american brands.
Honda is already having their Ridgeline in there to compete.
But i guess there is enough space in this category for Mahindra to gain some sales numbers.

[ishotmydog]

mahindra selling cars in the us doesnt seem like a bad idea as they will be competing with the jeep and gmc in the segment which the above article talks about. with a economical pick up truck and a strong dealership network i see no reason why they should not do well.

[srishiva]

The Mahindra pickup has been spied in U.S. Comes with Common Rail with Urea injection for emissions. Wonder when will we get the clean diesels in India?
Road & Track Magazine - Spied: 2010 Mahindra pickup truck (3/2009)

[amtak]

That's what I call advertising and creating brand awareness. Since its not known in US market much, they hid the grill to save themselves from the Jeep and are showing only the logo on the grill and atleast 4 places on the body.

Good move!

[sandeepmdas]

Time magazine has a write-up on M&M. Great publicity for Mahindra.

"Dramatically weakened by recession, U.S. automakers in the next few years are likely to be challenged on their home turf by car manufacturers from the developing world. But while the Chinese were expected to be the first to land in North America, it now looks like India will beat China to the U.S. market — and not with cars, but with light trucks."

Coming to an Ex-Car Dealer Near You: Pickup Trucks From India - TIME

[cariewinds]

I dont think they stand a chance here.They have Jeep here always remember that thoug they are bankrupt.People expect more power for Vehicle as big as Scorpio.Styling no doubt is good but need a few more niche lines and comfort and should be introduced with Renault engine to make a winning statement.Vehicle needs more comfortable in the back and safety features being prime importance.
Not to forget we are entering a lost market...People wont try you unless u some magic to sell here.Advertising and Promotion needs to be really tempting.

[Gooney]

An update and not a good one at that. Mahindra is in the midst of a controversy in the US with its importers Global Vehicles U.S.A. Not a good news for Mahindra who is yet to start selling in the US. The funny thing is that Mahindra's EPA clearance is valid until end-2011 and the company has not yet applied for a renewal.

Alpharetta, GA-based Global Vehicles CEO John Perez last year told WardsAuto his company was in a legal dispute over import rights to the U.S.-spec Mahindra TR20 and TR40 small pickups, which reportedly have a towing capacity of 5,000 lbs. (2,268 kg) and a payload of 2,765 lbs. (1,254 kg).
Powered by 2.2L 4-cyl. diesel engines, the pickups were expected to arrive in the U.S. in 2008, Perez said. Mahindra then pushed the date to September 2010, before saying the contract with Global Vehicles had expired, forcing Perez to seek a resolution through legal action.

Source: Wards Auto

[volkman10]

M&M's US plans on indefinite hold!

"Indian automaker Mahindra & Mahindra has dismissed, in no uncertain terms, reports it is preparing to build pickup trucks in Alabama with help from Navistar."

Mahindra Disavows Plans for Alabama Pickup Plant | TheDetroitBureau.com

[NewYorkDesi]

I was recently in a South American business trip visiting half a dozen countries. In Santiago Chile I saw Mahindra Scorpios, as well as in Nicaragua. Unusual but pleasant sight non the less... I have photos, will upload one of these days. It is sitting on my photo server at home and I am traveling on vacation..