Mahindra: Exporting Pickups to US by Mid-2010

Update: I have been made aware that the Wheels Unplugged article referenced in this post may contain altered quotes on US arrival times from PN Shah. I have removed this quote. The rest of the article recycles previous quotes and information.  Nothing new here.  I apologize to my readers.

Wheels Unplugged reports this morning:

“We are fully ready with the product (customized for the US market) and even the US manufacturing facility (in India). We are waiting for some regulatory approvals to launch the Scorpio in the US in this quarter” – Pawan Goenka, president, Automotive Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra

Iowa-based dealer, D&D Mahindra, confirmed Tuesday on Mahindra Truck Forum that they were told that Mahindra’s US test fleet (25 pickups) have not completed enough test miles to meet the EPA data requirements. The vehicles currently in testing have on average, 70,000 miles, and require 100,000 miles on the clocks before final data may be submitted and approval given.

Wheels Unplugged also reaffirms this morning that Mahindra has no immediate plans to assemble TR20 and TR40 pickups in the United States. Previous reports have also been clear that Mahindra will test the US-market waters before committing to US assembly, but they have been looking for suitable facilities.