New Mahindra Trucks

[Redneck in training]

Hopefully, they're going to offer stripped down versions. Rubber mats and a manual tranny. I dont know how much i trust Indian automatics and electronics just yet.

Im not interested in a full load boulevard cruiser, just a plane jane compact truck, for a lower price than the current offerings.

IMHO trying to compete with the big boys, with a full load ,"deluxe" truck, when your a relative unknown to the general public isnt a wise strategy. Coming in and really undercutting them on price makes more sense to me.

They buy licence from whomever has the technology they need. I think they know that they could do irreparable damage to their reputation if they fail to control quality for US market. Remember Yugo. Nobody would buy anything named Yugo today even if the quality would be good.

 

[rdbrumfield]

Personally, I wish they would put the old 1945 jeep back in production for the work animal only with a diesel. Would be cheaper than some ATV's and be able to handle the chores. I would think off road enthusiasts would gobble them up.

 

[Scooby074]

I think they know that they could do irreparable damage to their reputation if they fail to control quality for US market. Remember Yugo. Nobody would buy anything named Yugo today even if the quality would be good.

Thats another reason i hope they keep it simple. At least a simple truck makes the chances less for another yugo.

rdbrumfield:
Jeep is currently producing a pretty awesome truck with the diesel, they just dont sell it here in their "wisdom"

Check out the specs, heavy running gear and diesel power. I know id look at it if they sold it here but i guess it doesnt fit jeeps current image or something. Any emissions issues could be overcome. And they wonder why Jeep is failing?

Jeep J8: Taking The Wrangler Unlimited To Boot Camp, Bringing Back A Brute Of A Pickup

 

[Redneck in training]

Personally, I wish they would put the old 1945 jeep back in production for the work animal only with a diesel. Would be cheaper than some ATV's and be able to handle the chores. I would think off road enthusiasts would gobble them up.

All US automakers make diesels for foreign markets. One of the problems is our pollution standard. Europe measures pollution per kilometer driven and then imposes taxes based the volume of controlled substances found in the exhaust. Such system gives incentive to small cars but penalizes big vehicles regardless of cleanliness of their exhaust. Cars with high mileage will always beat even super clean large vehicle. US auto industry lobbied, for obvious reason, for the standard based on percentage of harmful fumes in the exhaust. This is where we are today. They have the engines but can't use them in the US until they make them cleaner.
If I have the choice I would drive diesel cars. I rented several of them in Europe and found them much more pleasant to drive than gasoline cars. Especially the stick shift.

 

[newbury]

Coming in and really undercutting them on price makes more sense to me.

Certainly makes me more willing to try them.

From the DFW ad

2 Door Truck - This no frills work horse is a stallion, a well equipped truck that spoils the workers that drive it. Rugged, luxurious, and dependable; not qualities you usually find in a Pick-up. It will make short work of most dirty jobs with out breaking a sweat.

I don't WANT to spoil the workers that drive it!!
I had a Toyota truck in high school, must have been about a 1975 or so.
Bare metal all over, thin doors, couldn't get much above 60mph, CHINTZY interior, noisy as heck and dependable as could be.
We could load it down like a 3/4 ton and drive it like a tractor.
Hose out the interior floor when it got muddy, which was often.
Rugged and dependable I want, the heck with luxury items like a/c, sound, comfortable seats.
I want to get the job done, clean up, then move to luxury.

 

[Redneck in training]

From the DFW ad
I don't WANT to spoil the workers that drive it!!
I had a Toyota truck in high school, must have been about a 1975 or so.
Bare metal all over, thin doors, couldn't get much above 60mph, CHINTZY interior, noisy as heck and dependable as could be.
We could load it down like a 3/4 ton and drive it like a tractor.
Hose out the interior floor when it got muddy, which was often.
Rugged and dependable I want, the heck with luxury items like a/c, sound, comfortable seats.
I want to get the job done, clean up, then move to luxury.

They still make them but only for Africa.

 

[newbury]

Two comments:

<snip>One of the problems is our pollution standard. Europe measures pollution per kilometer driven and then imposes taxes based the volume of controlled substances found in the exhaust.<snip>

I agree it should be on the amount polluted versus the work done.

If I have the choice I would drive diesel cars. I rented several of them in Europe and found them much more pleasant to drive than gasoline cars. Especially the stick shift.

You do - right now it's limited, but soon Subaru and Honda should be introducing passenger cars. Of course right now there are a variety of trucks.
My 40mpg diesel ride taken while hunting land in Mississippi, hence the orange cap :

 

[Redneck in training]

Two comments:

I agree it should be on the amount polluted versus the work done.

You do - right now it's limited, but soon Subaru and Honda should be introducing passenger cars. Of course right now there are a variety of trucks.
My 40mpg diesel ride taken while hunting land in Mississippi, hence the orange cap :

I have never bought new car in my life. So I will have to wait few years (unless other economic pressures would dictate otherwise) for used one. Diesel in passenger car is way to go.

 

[Renze]

You do - right now it's limited, but soon Subaru and Honda should be introducing passenger cars.

Over here in Europe, except the exotic sports cars, there is a limited number of brands that DONT offer Diesel:

Porsche
Subaru (untill recently)
Daihatsu
Dacia (Rumanian Renault)

Thats all i can come up with.

Toyota, VW, Mercedes, BMW, Volvo sell great Diesels. I'm not too fond of the Ford/PSA diesels used in Ford, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Peugeot, Citroen because they seem to have very expensive common rail system failures, and they rattle. So my next car will either be another 850, an early V70 (facelifted 850) with the trusty Volkswagen 2.5 TDI inline 5, or a newer V70, S60 or S40 with the Volvo built D5 engine (also a 2.5 inline 5 diesel, 200hp, but based on the Volvo gasoline engine of the 850 series)
The smaller S40 range will be plenty of car for me, but i just dont want to go back to a high rpm 90 or 102 hp 4 cylinder diesel of French origin, after getting spoiled with the smooth torque of the 2.5 TDI at 140 hp.
This engine did well in the 440, but that car was 300kg lighter than its successor the S40, and 400kg lighter than my current 850

 

[newbury]

I have never bought new car in my life. So I will have to wait few years (unless other economic pressures would dictate otherwise) for used one. Diesel in passenger car is way to go.

Actually now is a good time to buy a used VW diesel.
They stopped importing them in 2006.
By late 2008 a 2006 Jetts was going for the same prices as a difficult to get 2009. All other years followed. Many peeps were selling 2006's or 2005's for about what they paid for them new.
Then with the large differential that occurred between the price of RUG and the price of ULSD (sometimes RUG was $1.50/gal and ULSD > $2.50 in the same place) the bottom fell out of the used VW diesel market, and has yet to recover.
Most of the older ( pre '09) Jetta's and Golf's can get 40 to 50 mpg with no trouble.

Now what I wonder - has anyone seen the troopers ever check a car to see if it's burning red diesel?

 

[Scooby074]

Now what I wonder - has anyone seen the troopers ever check a car to see if it's burning red diesel?

Yeppers. Its done all the time around these parts. Usually its not the police , but the taxman. The fines are quite big ( several thousand) if your caught. Last year? there were a couple loggers and demolition company picked up locally. They'll cut your filter open, the die sinks right into the paper. They gave the usual excuse... I ran out and took some out of the slip tank to get home... didnt work

Yeah the VW's get great milage, I used to have a Jetta diesel got well over 50 MPG. I could drive from NS to Ottawa on a tank Why do we need the complexity of a electric hybrid again???? I miss that car.

Hopefully VW will see fit to bring the Polo BlueMotion diesel to North America.. Hello 70+MPG

 

[Redneck in training]

Actually now is a good time to buy a used VW diesel.
They stopped importing them in 2006.
By late 2008 a 2006 Jetts was going for the same prices as a difficult to get 2009. All other years followed. Many peeps were selling 2006's or 2005's for about what they paid for them new.
Then with the large differential that occurred between the price of RUG and the price of ULSD (sometimes RUG was $1.50/gal and ULSD > $2.50 in the same place) the bottom fell out of the used VW diesel market, and has yet to recover.
Most of the older ( pre '09) Jetta's and Golf's can get 40 to 50 mpg with no trouble.

Now what I wonder - has anyone seen the troopers ever check a car to see if it's burning red diesel?

Thanks for the advice. I will look into it.

 

[bindian]

mahindra_logo.jpg
DFW Mahindra Your Value Leader black truck.jpg
DFW Mahindra News Letter Update

Breaking News

Auto major Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) today said it has received environmental clearance from the US authorities for its diesel pick-up trucks, a step which will bring it closer to launching the vehicles in the US. M&M said it is the first Indian automobile manufacturer to receive a Light Duty Diesel Federal Tier-2 BIN-5 & OBD II Compliance Certificate, which was granted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the USA on August 17, 2010.

With this certification, Mahindra has joined a select group of global automobile manufacturers who have received this certification for a diesel-powered light duty vehicle (LDVs)," the company said in a statement.

The company had planned to launch its diesel pick-up in the US by the end of 2009, but has missed two deadlines since, due to regulatory issues. It has now set 2010-end as the possible time for launching the vehicle in the US.

As a result, its exclusive American distributor -- Global Vehicles (GV) -- slapped a lawsuit against the company in June, citing inordinate delays in the launch of the pick-up. However, terming GV's allegations as without merit, M&M countered the case with a dismiss motion in a US court.

Atlanta-based distributor GV, in the lawsuit filed before an Atlanta District Court, alleged there was an inordinate delay in the launch of the truck, which is based on the platform of M&M's sports utility vehicle, Scorpio. The two firms had entered into an agreement on September 28, 2006.

GV claims to have made an overall investment of $103.5 million along with franchisees towards the launch of the pick-up truck
From: Business Standard

DFW Mahindra Trucks SUV 4x4 Dealership Arlington Dallas Ft. Worth Texas India Home Page DFW Mahindra will sell the Mahindra Pickup Truck, also called the Mahindra Diesel, Mahindra Diesel Hybrid, Mahindra Hybrid, Mahindra Truck, Mahindra Trucks or Mah
green-leaves-m.jpg
Things will start to happen rapidly, as the truck is now certified by the EPA to be sold Stateside. The diesel powerplant was able to pass testing by injecting urea into the exhaust gases, common among modern diesel engines, to reduce the harmful gases produced. The pending EPA certification was apparently one of the final boxes that needed to be checked before it could begin importing the light-duty trucks.

Mahindra slightly modified its trucks for the U.S. market痴 crash testing regulations by adding a completely revised front fascia and grille guard. The revised offering has reportedly been approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, according to Mahindra.

The news is very promising, after speaking with a representative from Global Vehicles, we hear there may be a chance that the trucks will be available in dealer showrooms, as 2011 models, by December. Mahindra has had its fair share of delays, its time to get this party started!


Contact Information:
DFW Mahindra
2925 E. Division St.
Arlington, Texas 76011
817.695.1151
1.888.400.1151
bob@dfwmahindra.com

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

interesting that they had such trouble with Tier 2. Tier 3 is right around the corner, and many companies are already shipping interm tier 4 for small diesels. Some of what needs done for Tier 4 compliance on large engines is extremely difficult and we're seeing some pretty wacky stuff being done to meet those standards.

 

[ToadHill]

Well I waited for them as long as I could. Two months ago when the gas tank fell out of my F150 I had to buy and a new Ranger came home with me. It's the old bullet proof 2.3L and I've been getting 26+ mpg with it and still have to break in the engine.

 

[DavesTractor]

interesting that they had such trouble with Tier 2. Tier 3 is right around the corner, and many companies are already shipping interm tier 4 for small diesels. Some of what needs done for Tier 4 compliance on large engines is extremely difficult and we're seeing some pretty wacky stuff being done to meet those standards.

I think you are mixing tractors with trucks. Different requirements. It is a high bar to get a small diesel pickup passed by the EPA, but they got it done.

 

[gamble77]

If I were a Mahindra tractor dealer I would be worried about these coming to market. Now is not the time to be entering into any consumer product market that is already saturated. Now I am sure M&M will tell you the small diesel pickup truck market is not saturated (and they would be correct) but the market in general is moving away from small trucks. Why do you think GM doesn't have any plans to replace their small trucks in the states even though they are developing one for the the overseas market? Why do you think the Ranger hasn't gotten a major upgrade in what seems like 20-years?

This market isn't growing it is shrinking...and quickly. On top of that these are ugly vehicles, the interior isn't anywhere close to being "top of the line", and the prices I have heard "low 20's" won't draw any interest from a buying public not familiar with Mahindra vehicles or diesels. You say "diesel" to the average american consumer and they think BIG trucks...not little trucks.

As a Mahindra tractor dealer I would be real worried if these things flop. Mahindra has worked hard for years to establish their name in the tractor industry within the US and have done a great job...if these trucks do poorly it would surely hurt the Mahindra name. So don't take this as a bash from the JD guy but rather a hesitant oberservation from a tractor dealer who is also a car buff...

 

[bindian]

If I were a Mahindra tractor dealer I would be worried about these coming to market. Now is not the time to be entering into any consumer product market that is already saturated. Now I am sure M&M will tell you the small diesel pickup truck market is not saturated (and they would be correct) but the market in general is moving away from small trucks. Why do you think GM doesn't have any plans to replace their small trucks in the states even though they are developing one for the the overseas market? Why do you think the Ranger hasn't gotten a major upgrade in what seems like 20-years?

This market isn't growing it is shrinking...and quickly. On top of that these are ugly vehicles, the interior isn't anywhere close to being "top of the line", and the prices I have heard "low 20's" won't draw any interest from a buying public not familiar with Mahindra vehicles or diesels. You say "diesel" to the average american consumer and they think BIG trucks...not little trucks.

As a Mahindra tractor dealer I would be real worried if these things flop. Mahindra has worked hard for years to establish their name in the tractor industry within the US and have done a great job...if these trucks do poorly it would surely hurt the Mahindra name. So don't take this as a bash from the JD guy but rather a hesitant oberservation from a tractor dealer who is also a car buff...

I think you are looking at the new Mahindra trucks all wrong. They will not be in a class with Rangers and GM's small trucks. I think they will be competing with F150s. They make look ungainly, but I wouldn't say they are ugly. You are closing your mind to all the folks that want a utilitarian truck. I always wanted a Jeep pickup for it's rugged squared look. An old Jeep pickup with a diesel engine would be sweet.:licking: Then you are counting out all the folks that just love owning a diesel.:thumbsup: You will see folks that have diesel cars and want a truck looking at this rig.
hugs, Brandi

 

[catfishdaddyengineering]

Brandi is exactly right. I have a 98 Toyota Tacoma and will be seriously looking at the Mahindra when I get a new truck. It looks a lot like my present truck anyway. Hopefully by then, the other MFGs will have gotten the message, and we will have a lot more choices for small to mid-size diesel trucks.:thumbsup:

 

[tigers2007]

Anyone know if Ford is continuing their plan for a TDi F-150? I know that GM cancelled their diesel light-pickup plans last fall. What is wrong with these companies? Chrysler sells their 50Mpg Stratus in Europe but won't (or can't) bring it here. Ford has their 60Mpg Focus in England, etc.

I'll continue to drive my foreign car that gets 40mpg plus (city/highway) until the "American" auto companies come up with a viable solution. Ideally I would like to have a diesel light pickup that would get 30mpg highway. That way I could do away with my mpg-machine and my gas guzzling GM pickup and just only have to deal with one car. They've had the technology for years and they could have been making them before the 2006 ULSD changeover.

Ford is abandoning their once 90% marketshare of ambulance chassis. Watch and see everyone of them go to the Dodge (Mercedes) Sprinter chassis as they get almost 30% better fuel economy.