Mahindra to sell diesel pickup in U.S. market
 

Interesting

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061106/FREE/61106003/1024/

I also saw a newspaper article which stated they are working on a diesel hybrid pickup and SUV.

If these guys are smart, they could just bring in the diesel engines and make different mounting /flywheel adapters for most cars here.

Interesting. I wonder how they plan to pass the new emission standards.

If they are of decent quality, and priced right, aka, lower than everyone else then they should sell plenty. That is, if they can get through the byzantine Fed DOT/emissions crappola. Sure would be nice to see a decent diesel pickup, mini or otherwise for under $20K. RT

FWIW, you couldn't give me a boatload of Mahindira tractors. Every one I've ever seen was broken. Hope their truck is better.

I couldn't find much on Mahindra and US imports, but I wonder if the one they want to import here is going to be like this?

http://automotive.mahindraworld.com/Pickup.htm

It looks suspiciously like an old Jeep scrambler. I think that's what it was called.

http://automotive.mahindraworld.com/PickupRange.htm
Click thru some of the links to the right that cover their other products. They are really creative. The trucks look like they are leftovers from Willys and Jeep. But they have diesels in them!

Robb

Wow, that does look like an older willys design, with a modified Oldsmobile logo...hmmmm.

oh and right up the street. ill test drive one if they ever go live.

Interesting news, and finally an answer to what happened to the ARO import process.

And from India of all places. Wait a minute - didnt they buy the blueprints of the 616 engine circa '85? And apparently this Mahinda is 4cyl 2.5 litre. Would be interesting to get a closer look under the hood of this vehicle. Personally i like the Willy's look and consider it a selling point against fat round bulbous designs of Ford etc.

No, Force Motors (formerly Tempo?) makes the 616. If you look at Mahindra's history page, they've been making Willys/Jeeps for a long time. It looks like their diesel engine is a design licensed from Peugot.

http://www.mahindra.com/MAHINDRAS/automotive/productmainpage.htm

Wonder what kind of fuel milage their getting?

Dang, take a look at the export section. All of the SUVs look like jeeps!

Got bad news for you guys, Mahindra still makes crap, the front end of these so called Scorpio SUV/trucks are weak and loose alignment easily, worse of all, the engine is based on Peugot XUD series modified by AVL to accomodate turbo etc, they will pass emissions for sure, would they last anywhere near the MB OM616/617, I highly doubt that, they don't last here, don't think they will last there either.

Bajaj Tempo makes OM611 and ZF 6 speed as well as many other German stuff since the 60s, India makes quality and junk, just have to look carefully.

Yep, I just said it was interesting, I didn't say I was going to buy one.:D

Still, if it has any success at all, it might encourage the other manufacturers to market some light duty diesel truck models.

Also, the diesel hybrid would be a breakthrough. Keeping the catalyst hot while switching the diesel on and off has blocked the diesel hybrid technology up to now.