In yet another development of the Global Vehicles USA/Mahindra Pickup saga, Global’s CEO John Perez is adamant that the small, diesel engined pickups will be available to U.S. buyers by spring 2011.

In a letter sent out to a number of interested buyers, Perez stated: “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,” and  ”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.”

According to Perez, winter is the worst time to launch a vehicle, with September/October being a preferred choice, followed by March or April (like the  hugely successful, original Ford Mustang for example).

Yet despite his optimism it looks like this little truck might already be a lame duck in our market. Maindra brass have said there is still no ‘planned date’ for a U.S. introduction and with Mahindra’s certification from the EPA set to expire on December 31st next year, time is running out and along with it patience and interest from potential buyers.

“I am disappointed and broken hearted by this mythical ghost truck,” said one, while another declared that the whole thing was “starting to sound like the bigfoot saga.”

[Source: Pickuptrucks.com]

Beleaguered Indian truck manufacturer Mahindra has had their American launch delayed indefinitely, thanks to a series of legal battles between Mahindra and vehicle importer Global Vehicle Sales USA.

Global Vehicles argues that Mahindra wrongfully terminated the contract between the two companies. “The bottom line here is Mahindra now believes this is a huge project. They want us out of the way so they can go direct and save the money we were going to make,” Global Vehicles chief executive John Perez told the AP on Friday.

Mahindra’s managing director, Anand Mahindra said that the company has “no date” for entering the U.S.

[Source: Associated Press]

Will it ever end? Hot on the heels of the announcement by Global Vehicles that it had placed a $35 million order for U.S. spec Mahindra Pik-Ups; Mahindra has now issued a statement declaring the order ‘invalid’ and accusing Global Vehicles of theatrics and working hard at attempts to damage its reputation in the U.S.

Mahindra is also sticking fast to its claims that the contract between it and Global has expired and it is free to pursue its own channels of distribution for the trucks in the U.S. In fact, P. N. Shah, Chief Executive of Mahindra’s International Division; Farm & Automotive, stated that;  ”Mahindra’s goal remains to bring its vehicles to the U.S. market, satisfying the desires of U.S. consumers and dealers alike.” Quite how they’re going to do that remains to be seen. The saga continues…

Official press release after the jump:

Continue Reading…

Rumors have been circulating for some time, but now Global Vehicles CEO John Perez has come out and said it - Mahindra delayed EPA certification of its TR series pickup so it could end the agreement with GV as the official US importer.

Perez says that the original contract between Mahindra and GV contained a sunset clause which stated that should the trucks not be be ready for sale in the U.S. within three years – people could just walk away and Mahindra would not be subjected to any lawsuits.

Now that clause has come to mean something slightly different: GV, having invested several million dollars up front to secure a distribution network for the trucks is now out in the cold and Mahindra is washing its hands clean, leaving angry customers and considerable uncertainty over the future of the pickups in the U.S. market.

At present, GV is in the midst of a lawsuit against Mahindra, over delays of the vehicle’s introduction – which stems back to a falling out between the two parties. Mahindra wanted GV to make adjustments to the original dealer program, but GV refused. Mahindra then essentially ceased communication with the U.S. importer and delayed the vehicle’s introduction, leading to GV filing a lawsuit.

Now, with Mahindra having voided GV’s contract and statements that  it engineered that delay, things have gone from bad to worse. As a result, there appears to be no solution for importing the trucks to the U.S. at present and as the lawsuit is dragged through the U.S. legal system – those dealers that signed on wonder if they’ll ever get their trucks. Stay tuned for further developments.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

In what seems to be a never ending saga, it appears there might finally be some significant developments as it relates to Mahindra’s U.S. bound small pickup. According to some sources; the Environmental Protection Agency has finally given Mahindra the emissions certification required to sell its diesel engined TR series pickup Stateside for the 2011 model year.

It perhaps couldn’t come at a better time. Repeated delays over the vehicle’s launch date and mixed communications between Mahindra in India and it’s U.S. distributor Global Vehicles, have resulted in litigation proceedings being instigated, however with the EPA breakthrough, it looks like there might now be a ray of hope.

According to Max Butler, vice president of marketing with Global Vehicles USA, “we’re very excited about getting certification. Our dealers are excited as well. This is great news.”

Mahindra plans to offer the small truck in TR20 (two-door) and TR40 (crew cab) configurations. The trucks will be powered by a modified version of the ‘Hawk’ 2.2-liter in-line four-cylinder diesel, which will employ exhaust urea injection to help meet U.S. smog requirements. Estimates rate the pickup at a 1.3-ton hauling capacity and fuel mileage at close to 30 mpg. No word on official pricing yet, but it’s believed that when the trucks finally arrive, they will sticker in the $22,000 range.

[Source: Pickup trucks.com]

Well it ever get here? Based on the latest scuttlebutt regarding the U.S. launch of Mahindra’s compact pickup, it’s looking less likely with each passing day. Global Vehicles USA, the licensed distributor for Mahindra vehicles in this country has filed a lawsuit against the Indian manufacturer for repeated delays in bring the trucks over, which is costing Global a pretty penny, since GV has already signed up approximately 350 dealers and spent nearly $35 million in preparation for launching the Mahindra pickup Stateside.

According to Mike Geylin, spokesman for GV USA, Mahindra has repeatedly dragged its feet regarding the launch date and the lawsuit “seeks to compel the Indian company to honor it’s contractual obligations and begin shipping [the vehicles] pursuant to existing and long standing orders placed by Global Vehicles on behalf of its dealers.”

Mahindra spokesman Pawan Goenka stated that “we are going as per (our) original plan for the launch of the pickup truck (December 2010), but can’t say on the actual time of the launch as it will depend on the outcome of the litigation.”  The soap opera continues…

[Source: Pickup trucks.com]

India’s Mahindra is gearing up to sell its pickups in the United States and has recently completed all the necessary tests to gain approval for the diesel-powered truck. However, Mahindra’s US importer has already missed two launch dates, and is gearing up for a third, this time with the necessary modifications made for regulatory approval.

Joe Perez, CEO of Mahindra’s importer, Global Vehicles, refused to give any details regarding the vehicle’s launch when speaking to Automotive News, citing Mahindra’s unwillingness to name a launch date.

Importing smaller pickup trucks into the United States has traditionally been a difficult exercise, due to an import tax called the “chicken tax“. The chicken tax was a tariff placed on imported small VW trucks to safeguard the domestic automakers stranglehold on the pickup truck market, and has prevented many automakers from competing in this segment. If the Mahindra ends up being imported, it will join a small list of foreign compact pickups not fully assembled in the United States.

[Source: Left Lane News]