US: Mahindra brand launch and Pik-Up assembly in Ohio from 2009; to be badged 'Appalachian'

Monday, February 11, 2008, AutomotiveWorld.com

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According to pickuptruck.com, which quotes the local partner of Mahindra and Mahindra, the Indian OEM will change the name of its Pik-up to 'Appalachian' and license assembly of the model from 2009 as part of its plans to enter the US light truck market.

In late 2007, the portal interviewed John Perez, the chief executive of Global Vehicles USA, the Alpharetta, Georgia-based automotive import company that will assist M&M to launch versions of its Scorpio SUV and Pik-up from mid-2009.

Perez says the future Appalachian, named after a mountain range in the eastern US, is being re-engineered and given a new interior that, the portal says "is been designed to American tastes (and sizes) by Michigan-based supplier Lear Corporation". Mahindra and GV-USA are also planning a wide range of accessories for the Toyota Tacoma-sized truck, one of which is expected to be a snowplough.

Mahindra & Mahindra plans to offer a diesel-electric hybrid pick-up to American buyers by 2010, as well as standard versions powered by the OEM's new 2.2-litre I4 mHawk diesel engine. Both powertrains will be available for the Scorpio SUV.

A 60,000-mile, four-year bumper-to-bumper warranty will also be standard, it is claimed. The mHawk was recently announced in India for a new top-spec version of the Scorpio, the V-Series.

"I was just advised that by 2010 we'll have a diesel hybrid pickup (for sale in the US market). It will be available for the two-door and four-door pick-ups, and the SUV," Perez is quoted as saying.

This is the first time a diesel hybrid powertrain has been announced by a light truck manufacturer for the US market.

"We're not able to announce pricing yet (for the diesel hybrid) but we're not expecting it to be, say, US$10,000 more (than the diesel-only pick-up). Probably several thousand more," Perez adds, having previously stated that the diesel-only pick-up would start at US$22,000.

The US-spec version of the mHawk will have a power rating of close to 150hp (112kW) with approximately 300 lb ft of torque, pickuptruck.com claims. The mHawk was designed in cooperation with diesel engineering firms Bosch and AVL specifically with the American pick-up market in mind. The portal claims a six-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel-mounted paddles will be standard.

"I'm really happy about this diesel," says Perez. "This is a market that nobody is going to be in for at least three of four years. We're going to be able to give small businesses a truck that can get 30 to 35 miles-per-gallon, and with a diesel engine that's durable. It's a $40,000 truck that we're going to sell in the mid-twenties."

Mahindra says the Appalachian will be able to carry a 1.3-ton (2,600-lb) payload in its 7.5-foot cargo box. By comparison, the 2008 Toyota Tacoma has a max payload rating of 1,685-lbs and the 2008 Dodge Dakota has a max payload of 1,720-lbs.

Three hundred dealers have signed up to sell the first two Mahindra vehicles for the US market (the brand currently exists only in the agricultural vehicle sector), and while almost all will be adding the franchise to an existing dealership site, 24 stand-alone Mahindra outlets are planned, with the first one currently under construction, it is claimed.

Mahindra has spent almost US$80-million federalising the Appalachian and Scorpio, with the majority of that investment spent on collision protection and emissions modifications.

Production of both vehicles is due to start on 15 March 2009 in India but final assembly of the pick-up will take place at an unannounced location in Ohio. This way Mahindra will be able to avoid the 25% federal import tariff (the so-called 'Chicken tax') levied on foreign-built pick-ups. Perez says the amount will be only 4% and the first vehicles will be on sale by summer 2009.

Published on Monday, February 11, 2008

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