Did Mahindra and Global Vehicles Kiss and Make Up?
Jason Lancaster | Nov 05, 2010 | Comments 2
Like many truck fans, I’ve been waiting for the Mahindra Pik-Up. Not only because it’s going to the first “baby” diesel truck available to consumers, but also because it promises to deliver a tremendous amount of capability (great towing and hauling) at a great price ($25-$30k per).
Are Mahindra and Global Vehicles REALLY going to sell any trucks?
Unfortunately, the future of Mahindra has been pretty cloudy this year. Mahindra and Global Vehicles (their U.S. distributor) haven’t been on the best of terms lately. Global Vehicles President John Perez has alleged heavy-handedness from Mahindra, and Mahindra has tried to completely dissolve their relationship with Global Vehicles.
However, a recent email from Mahindra President John Perez indicates that this relationship may be on the mend:
Good Morning Mahindra Truck Fans,
Congratulations. You are part of over 30,000 signed up to be the first to experience the hardworking Mahindra trucks.
I know you are wondering when you will have the opportunity to get behind the wheel of one of these amazing, authentic, robust, fuel-efficient trucks at a Mahindra dealer near you. While I cannot give you a firm answer on timing, I can tell you in my estimation, trucks will arrive in the spring of 2011.
Mahindra has applied for and received their EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) certificate, which means the vehicles have passed emission requirements. They also filed with (NHTSA) National Highway Safety Administration, which handles US standards for safety.
With these hurdles completed, it would seem production is imminent, but other factors may hinder the US launch. India’s car sales are on a dramatic trajectory upward. The sales pace combined with an industry wide parts shortage is impacting home market sales, which will have an affect on the United States introduction.
In closing, I know each of you anxiously await the arrival of the Mahindra trucks, and I am confident that you will see a launch announcement in the next few months.
Regards,
John A. Perez
CEO
Global Vehicles USA, Inc.
Note that Perez doesn’t mention anything about a legal battle with Mahindra. It seems that, if Global was indeed embroiled in a lawsuit with Mahindra and really trying to manipulate the situation, this email would have been a good opportunity to state their case. The fact that Global is making excuses for Mahindra and keeping the wire warm could be a sign things are getting better between the two companies…or it could be a sign that Global is just trying to keep consumers engaged.
What do you think: Is Mahindra FINALLY bound for the USA?
Filed Under: Auto News
I’m waiting, Get it here and deliver what your promising on MPG’s and quality and I’ll by it. Every other manufacturer take note, we’ve been asking and demanding a small truck with a small diesel for years and you refuse to listen, so my money is going to India, and so is many other people’s money. Just check out the blogs and websites about this truck and see what the demand is. You could have built this for us, you could have had the money from sales; but you listen to your know nothing marketing departments instead. These are the same people that told you the chevette, pinto, gremlin, and pacer was good ideas. Maybe it’s time to listen to the people who know what we want, US. Trucks built on car chassy are not trucks, they’er CARS. they can’t do what a truck does, so quit trying to cram them down our throats. Packages forcing us to buy accessories we don’t want is why we’re not buying your cars and trucks. Onstar = more money I don’t have to spend on something I don’t want or need. Loaded up work trucks = wasted money for crap that will get broke, stolen, or removed from the trucks because we don’t need it and didn’t want it to begin with. All this is money wasted by us so you can line your pockets; guess what, not anymore, people are finally getting wise to the game and your sales are dropping. Why? we want what we want, not what you tell us we want, got it. So, if we have to send our money to another country to wake you up, then so be it……………………..
Kevin – I wholeheartedly agree about the pent-up demand for smaller diesel trucks in the USA. However, I keep coming back to the onerous and expensive US environmental regulations. If it weren’t for the fact this truck was built in India (where labor costs are incredibly low), I think it would be $30-40k…and that’s not going to work.
Until the U.S. laws change or someone figures out a way to make diesel pass emissions on the cheap, diesel engines are going to be AT LEAST $5k more than gas…which means a diesel Tacoma/Tundra/F150/etc. is going to be too expensive.
In short, I’m blaming our government instead of the automakers for this problem…and I too look forward to driving a Mahindra diesel (fingers crossed).