Mahindra Appalachian diesel pickup arrives in US next year, diesel hybrid version by 2010

www.autoblog.com ^ | 02/11/2008 | John Neff

[Red Badger]

http://www.mahindrausa.com/

[-YYZ-]

This, to me, begs the question: why are none of the existing sellers of light trucks in North America offering us a small-displacement diesel engine? I mean, those great big Cummins and Navistar-built units are great for people that need to haul 12,000 lb trailers, but most of us just don’t need that much hauling ability - a smaller, lighter cheaper alternative just makes sense to me.

Well, there were those Jeep Libertys with a smallish diesel engine - but I guess that was Daimler-built and not available any more? I don’t know why it never made it into a small pick-up.

[Red Badger]

Good question. Sometimes I think American Auto manufacturers are either blind or stupid or both. To be fair, they concentrate don the large SUV luxury market because they had the most profit, and just let the low end languish.

The number one rule of successful business is “Find a need and fill it.” Mahindra may be doing just that.

[TxAg1981]

I would love to see one. I have said for several years that anyone who sold a mid-sized pickup with a diesel engine would run away with the market. Most folks just need a pickup to haul crap around. I don’t know how people live without a pickup of some sort (even a small one) to haul material, mulch, etc. I don’t need an engine the size that Ford, Dodge, and GM sell. I just need a pickup to haul stuff and would LOVE to have a small diesel (to compliment my 2 diesel cars and diesel Sprinter van).

[Charles Martel]

Well, there were those Jeep Libertys with a smallish diesel engine - but I guess that was Daimler-built and not available any more? I don’t know why it never made it into a small pick-up.

The engine was in short supply, IIRC.

[Charles Martel]

The Appalachian has yet to go through U.S. certification for emissions and safety, but the company is spending $80 million to ensure its truck passes with no issues.

I wonder if that 80 Mil is earmarked for follow-up R&D - or good ol' bribes?

Seriously, has Mahindra previously built a vehicle with passive restraints?

[Tony in Hawaii]

I wonder how large the cab is? I’m about the size of three average Indian folks.

I always laugh when I get a 3XL shirt that was made in Bangladesh, the person who sewed it could probably fit his or her whole family inside it.

[FreedomPoster]

>>Not only that, but India doesn’t have a repressive communist regime to contend with. Since they are a democracy, capitalism can flourish...............

India’s problem is that they are saddled with a regulatory bureaucracy that’s as bad or worse than anything that Chinese entrepreneurs have to deal with.

[ltc8k6]

The US took forever to switch to low-sulphur diesel fuel.

That has delayed new diesel engines in the US.

The Liberty’s diesel was not capable of meeting new diesel emission standards. It had to be ended.

The Cherokee has a newer design diesel, which does meet the standards, but doesn’t get very good economy.

The price of diesel fuel in the US is also holding back diesels. It has improved, but recently in my area, diesel was $1 more per gallon than gasoline, meaning a diesel had to get phenomenal FE to make sense to buy it.

[ltc8k6]

That Liberty diesel was Italian. supplied by VM Motori in Cento, Italy. They were a Daimler Chrysler subsidiary.

[Octar]

I am chomping at the bit to buy a mid size to full size pickup with a diesel engine.

My Silverado Duramax/Allison is running better than ever with 110k miles. I get between 18 and 21 mpg. You won't be sorry.

[HereInTheHeartland]

“Sorry, but real men only drive American trucks.”

The truck pictured above doesn’t do anything to dispel that either.

It looks like something that should come in pink.

[Erasmus]

And oh, by the way, Ford just sold Rover and Jaguar to the Indians.

Soon you will be going to dealerships featuring bodacious Tatas.

I need to offer my services to them as a marketing consultant.

<}B^)

[Hatteras]

"It looks like something that should come in pink."

Reminds me of an older Land Rover...

[Red Badger]

Seriously, has Mahindra previously built a vehicle with passive restraints?

If they sell vehicles in the EU or South America then passive restraints are standard........

[Sender]

Edmunds AutoObserver says that the Mahindra diesel engines will be "built by a major German auto supplier".

So you don't have to worry about a made-in-India engine, if you worry about such things, it's a German-powered 1980 Toyota.

[Cronos]

well, they’ll keep the curry smell out and replace it with roast beef.

[Cronos]

I dont' think india planned anything like that -- the government there is a joke. All it's growth now is due to private enterprises --> once the Indian socialist nearly bankrupted the country in 1991, they had to open up the country and THAT's when it's latent entrepreneurial talents came to fore

That's why you now have an Indian car company (Tata motors) that has bought Jaguar and Landrover and is also the manufacturer of the $2,500 car. India is also turning out to be a manufacturing hub for Suzuki and Hyundai -- mostly for selling cars to other 2nd and third world countries.

Good old capitalism

[Erik Latranyi]

“The fixed overhead of setting up a plant in the U.S. is very, very high. And with the kind of volume we foresee now, that is not a viable option.”

Chrysler already licenses some Jeep designs to Mahindra and rumors circulate that they are in discussions about a joint venture.

Chrysler has excess capacity and is looking to replace its Dodge Dakota mid-size pickup.

This could be a marriage made in New Delhi

[ltc8k6]

I think that was a long time ago.

Mahindra used to make Willys Jeeps, too.

Chrysler recently fought Mahindra over the use of the word Jeep.

I don’t think the two will be working together.