Interesting article submitted by unsane19 :)

[Rodslinger]

Mahindra to Make Pickup in Ohio in '09, Importer Says (Update1)

By Mike Ramsey

Feb. 11 (Bloomberg) -- Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., India's biggest maker of sport-utility vehicles and tractors, plans to assemble a new diesel-powered pickup in Ohio next year, an executive for the trucks' distributor said.

Mahindra is in final negotiations with a contract assembler for the work, John Perez, chief executive officer of importer Global Vehicles U.S.A. Inc., said today. The Indian vehicle maker plans to start selling the pickup with a 2.2-liter diesel engine in mid-2009.

Building trucks in Ohio would follow through on Managing Director Anand Mahindra's goal, outlined in a December interview in New Dehli, of expanding overseas as the rupee's gains against the dollar make assets in the U.S. relatively cheaper.

``We are really excited about the product,'' said Jim Long, a Mahindra franchise owner who is building a store in St. Paul, Minnesota. ``We think it will do very well.''

Mahindra has signed up 300 initial U.S. dealers and has a sales goal for its first full year of 45,000 trucks, Perez said in an interview after speaking to dealers in San Francisco at the National Automobile Dealers Association convention.

Mahindra also will introduce a diesel-electric hybrid option for its vehicles in 2010, said Perez, whose Global Vehicles is based in Alpharetta, Georgia.

``The diesel gets 30 percent better mileage'' than gasoline- powered internal-combustion engines ``and the hybrid will get 30 percent better than that,'' Perez said.

The Wall Street Journal reported Perez's comments about Mahindra's plans earlier today.

Declining Market

Mahindra will begin selling trucks and SUVs in a U.S. market where sales of both types of vehicles have been falling. Perez said the low cost of the trucks and the added fuel- efficiency should boost U.S. sales to 100,000 vehicles by 2012.

Mahindra will first build a two-door pickup similar in size to General Motors Corp.'s Colorado or Ford Motor Co.'s Ranger and later introduce a four-door truck and an SUV. The vehicles will sell for $20,000 to $30,000, Perez said.

There are no automakers in the U.S. that sell diesel- powered trucks of that size. Chrysler LLC has said it will begin selling a diesel engine in its full-size Dodge Ram pickup in 2010, still a larger truck than the Mahindra.

Perez wouldn't say where in Ohio the plant would be built. The assembler would take parts shipped from India and put them together. Doing so helps Mahindra avoid an import tariff of 25 percent.

To contact the reporter on this story: Mike Ramsey in San Francisco at mramsey6bloomberg.net



Bloomberg.com: India & Pakistan

[Barchetta]

Here is a link to there proposed US vehicles.

GV-USA | Global Vehicles USA

[cj41foley]

We have a 55 horse Mahindra tractor and have had good luck with it. Neat looking little truck. Should get good mileage with the right set up.

[ezzrider]

This is just what we need. A company from India making Diesel Pickups in the United States. I guess competition is always a good thing but I still would like to buy American whenever I can and is one reason I have always owned Fords. Of course probably most of the parts that make up my new F250 were probably made outside the United States!!

[Mustang1989]

I'm so sick and tired of hearing that! It doesn't matter what geographic area something is made as long as it's made right, and under good working conditions. End of story.

[Barchetta]

Originally Posted by Mustang1989

I'm so sick and tired of hearing that! It doesn't matter what geographic area something is made as long as it's made right, and under good working conditions. End of story.

I think it does matter where things are made. I also think it matters where you buy them too.

I make it a point to make all my purchases in the county I live and if possible the city. I do that so that it's my county/city that benefits from the tax. As a business owner I am keenly aware of this. My business is located in Longwood. If someone that lives in my city patronizes me then it a great situation. Because I have to pay taxes no matter what to the city/county even if that person is from another county. So why not keep you money in your community?

Same example goes for buying products that were manufactured in the US. Why not keep the money here?

[Barchetta]

I have nothing against Mahindra. Free market is a great thing. It has many benefits, but if you have a choice of what products you buy, then that's up to you.

I know this is way off topic, but here is my example. I can buy coffee from anywhere. Starbucks has wonderful coffee, but I hate the way they run their company. So, do I buy coffee from Starbucks, no. It's just my way of doing business. I know I won't ever make a difference in their bottom line, but I feel better not supporting a company like that. Plain and simple.

I shall start a new thread if need be, I don't what this one to get out of hand now and get closed.

[Barchetta]

As a matter of fact, can one of the mods just move it now? The Mahindra thread is great and people need to see it. I don't want this threat to turn into a bad thing for something that has nothing to do with Mahindra.

[thbd77]

Maybe this will get the big 3 to offer more diesels in everything

[robertcarmel]

Originally Posted by Barchetta

I think it does matter where things are made. I also think it matters where you buy them too.

I make it a point to make all my purchases in the county I live and if possible the city. I do that so that it's my county/city that benefits from the tax. As a business owner I am keenly aware of this. My business is located in Longwood. If someone that lives in my city patronizes me then it a great situation. Because I have to pay taxes no matter what to the city/county even if that person is from another county. So why not keep you money in your community?

Same example goes for buying products that were manufactured in the US. Why not keep the money here?

This Attitude is a contributers to why we have substandard items and pressure people into buy it under the "Buy American" band wagon. I am a PROUD American and I have ALMOST always owned a Ford, but I had a little Toyota when I was young, and it would work as hard as my full sized trucks! I will buy American when the American product is of EQUAL quality and the value has to be close, I will pay a little more for an American product, if the quality is as good or better! I feel strongly about that! Mahindra makes a GREAT Tractor, and not every one can afford a John Deere, not when a Mahindra is 1/2 the price.


Bob~!