Many web news outlets are publishing word that Mahindra & Mahindra will be bidding to take over failing South Korean automaker, SsangYong Motor. Why do we care? Not only does SsangYong have a super catchy name, but the bulk of their lineup is SUV’s.
Most interesting of the lot is SsangYong’s Actyon Sports A200S and A230S pickup trucks (in the photos above and below). Both share a common body-on-frame platform with 2WD and part time 4WD options. The A200S has a 2.0 liter direct injection diesel available with automatic or manual transmissions. The A230S is a 2.3 liter gasoline powered pickup available only with a manual transmission. While both models clearly aren’t as heavy duty as the Mahindra TR20 and TR40 (sub-1000 pound load capacity), they could be an interesting complement to Mahindra’s current pickup options. We’ll have to wait until August before we know who actually wins the bid for SsangYong Motor.
EPA
As reported by Automotive News and PickupTrucks.com, Mahindra has accumulated the required mileage on their fleet of US test pickups to finally submit for EPA approval. Mahindra plans to submit its request for approval this week and we expect the official EPA okay sometime next month.As mentioned in both articles and previously in this blog, the relationship between US Mahindra importer, Global Vehicles, and India-based, Mahindra & Mahindra, appears to be slightly strained. GV has learned from past mistakes about predicting actual US launch dates and will no longer commit to naming a timeline. Anticipation for the (expected) mid-$20,000, diesel-powered pickups is extremely high. It’s possible that the trucks could reach US shores by early August of this year. Hopefully, Mahindra will release an actual date in the near future.
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