Mahindra's Bold U.S. Plans

Good stuff. Very good quotes.

It is very clear that the appeal, other than possibly to some Indians now living here in Barbaria, has to be low cost. Very low cost/high profit margins for greedy dealers.

I visualize these vehicles as utilitarian, rural/farm-orient-ed, and the market is very small. The first pickups from Japan were slightly modified mini-trucks that could be found on the farms there--small, tough, sharp-turning, stiffly sprung, hideous seats, weak but willing engines and strong gear-trains. Very long lived if it were not for the tendency to rust as if there was no tomorrow. Also, the pickup beds were designed for use, not style, as is the case today, the hooks on the outside, etc.

I can almost imagine Mahindra doing fairly well in so-called 'third-world' countries, this, while hating that phrase. For the most part, in America pickups are just gas-swilling toys with nice soft car interiors. Even those used here in the Wild West on corporate farms are designed to accommodate the pot-bellies and soft tails of what so many big farmers have become. Not all, mind you... I know of what I speak...

Even with very limited sales, having the vehicles on the road will build name recognition. This could easily lend credibility and produce sales for their tractor business. Also, those who have purchased their diesel tractors may be some of the first in line for the small trucks. With fuel prices steadily on the rise a small truck with a diesel engine might just be the product that takes the segment by storm. The SUV.....well, it's no wrangler.

Count me among the skeptics. They are entering an incredibly competitive segment in the most competitive market in the world. They will obviously sell on price, but how much cheaper will they be than the current crop of trucks/suvs? Then their is the quality question. How well built can we reasonably expect these trucks to be? My guess is they will be where Hyundai was their first couple of years in the US, not a very promising prospect. One other point to consider is how loyal truck buyers are. A Chevy or Toyota fan would not be caught dead in some else's truck, no matter what they cost.

"And then there is the “Mahindra” name. A fellow auto writer of mine says they’d be better off going with a non ethnic sounding name. Who wants to buy an Indian SUV or pickup” he asks."

Be ready to hear more asian "ethnic" names. If asians have no problems with "western" names (which include ethnic Italian, german, Spanish names) why the hell should you have with Indian names???

When will you realize that the center of universe is no longer Europe or US???

Nikhil is oh so right with his comment on the name Mahindra. Nothing wrong there! Most of us now pronounce Japanese car company names fairly well, and chinese names are baby talk. We could bitch and moan over Thai or Polish names... but the marketing firms would make them easier if only for self-preservation.

I wish Mahindra the best of luck in trying to break into our market, but I really have to wonder just where they came up with the idea that they wanted to be another Land Rover!?!? Why set the bar so low? The reputation of that outfit is just about subterranean at this point from a reliability standpoint.

Nikhil is oh so right with his comment on the name Mahindra. Nothing wrong there! Most of us now pronounce Japanese car company names fairly well, and chinese names are baby talk. We could bitch and moan over Thai or Polish names... but the marketing firms would make them easier if only for self-preservation.

I wish Mahindra the best of luck in trying to break into our market, but I really have to wonder just where they came up with the idea that they wanted to be another Land Rover!?!? Why set the bar so low? The reputation of that outfit is just about subterranean at this point from a reliability standpoint.

And there is another thing, this one regarding diesel engines. The US has been a laggard in their further development due to our cheap/subsidized gas prices for lo these many decades. Every car company in Japan has been making diesels for many years, and certainly this has been the case in Europe. With the mandated low-sulphur fuel FINELY available here in the US, and various oil companies crowing about 'their achievement', the door is opening for additional players in the diesel vehicle market.

Thus the Mahindra may well have competition HERE that did not exist last year. World-wide this is an olde story. A tough row to hoe is what I am suggesting...

Exactly right Nikhil, even if Europe or the US doesn't accept Mahindra, they are not growing markets anyways. I could see this selling in South and West Asia (Middle east).

Forget about product, market, and economics if Mahindra want to have any modicum of success in the US they first need to put a dynamic leader at the helm of the US company. Bill Goetze is not that man. He will not put his name on any decision that has not been run up the flag pole enough times to erase him from liability for the results of the decision. Leadership and motivator are two characteristics that are not used to describe Goetzes' talents. Mahindra needs someone to take them to the next level in their development in the US. That could be their biggest challenge in the US market.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUiKHnSUvLo&feature=related

Here is an interesting video i found on Youtube.

If you do not want Mihindra, then you have plenty of choices of domestic and import pick-ups and SUVs. How many of these present US companies offer a low priced, diesel powered utilitarian product? Mihindra will be supported by non-V8 thinking/driving market.(California) Why does the American driver have to be accept limited choices when it comes to vehicles. (Europe does not) Yes, the US market is declining. This is not due to having exceptional vehicles with superior product reliability. The US manufacturers force feed their poor product offerings to the market. Mihindra, fills a niche that no other manufacturer is ready to fill. The name is meaningless. Proof? Why do Japanese and Korean name brands sell cars in large quantities? Are you saying that if you stamp "Ford, GM or Chrysler on the a vehicle it will sell more than another brand with a different name? Mihindra, and all the other vehicles coming to the US market, will be judged on more important factors than the lack of illiteracy of the US driver.

This vehicle is already for sale and being purchased in Australia among other Western countries. As for American manufacturers, we see how well they are doing pushing overpriced products down American throats and paying lobbyists to keep tariffs on imported goods to maintain market share. Bring it on and let the market decide

As long as the gas price go up like rocket there will be a huge demand for such SUVs and pickups. This is a vehicle that offers 30-40mpg and costs around 20-25 grant. I dont believe that it is wrong move from mahindra.Name or ethnicity doesnt matter...all that matters is the dollar in ur pocket.

hi how r u
we r loking for mahindra scorpion blue in colour. with bank installment or your company installment.
will u mind to send quotation on my mail add. thank you.