Indian Carmaker Plans Diesel-Hybrid Pickup for the U.S.

[elifino]

Final assembly to be done in Ohio.

http://www.hybridcars.com/news/indian-carmaker-plans-diesel-hybrid-pickup-us.html

Maybe a little help to the auto workers there and a push to get the big 3 to get their act together.

[doc03]

1. That's one ugly ass pickup, it looks like they

assembled the left over parts from the 1970s Toyota, Datsun and Isuzu. I bet they sell like hot cakes.:sarcasm:

[jmowreader]

6. If it's inexpensive enough, it will

"Cheap" trumps "ugly."

[doc03]

7. The OP says it the diesel version will

be priced in the mid $20000s and the hybrid will run about $5000 more. I certainly wouldn't fork out any $25000 to $30000 for that thing. I wouldn't pay even half that for that thing.

[jmowreader]

14. You aside, the Japanese (especially) and the Big Three should be scared of this truck

If you go to http://www.mahindrausa.com and check out Mahindra's tractor line, you'll see they can make pretty equipment. They've got a year to de-ugly this truck, and they've already started out on the right foot by planning to put an interior that will appeal to Americans in it.

The reason the other truckmakers should be scared of it is we're looking at a $25,000 one-ton truck (no Japanese maker sells a one-ton in the US, and no American maker sells one that gets better than 15mpg) that's designed for a nation that doesn't pave most of its roads. Assuming the Appalachian doesn't ride like a buckboard wagon, they will sell a shitload of them.

[doc03]

16. I don't think they will go flying off the shelf

pickup truck owners are very brand loyal, it took decades for Toyota and Nissan to attempt going head to head with Detroit. Honda hasn't ventured into the full size range yet and although it is a very nice truck the Ridgeline hasn't really caught on. :scared:

[Ex Lurker]

12. Looks okay to me

Styling is a low priority. I just want something that gets me around reliably and hauls a decent sized load.

[Deja Q]

2. Someone recently told me GM and Ford use parts built in and shipped from China

And that the only 100% American-made vehicle is a Toyota (irony alert)

Any truth to any of that?

[doc03]

3. I think my Toyota Tacoma had a larger percentage

of USA content than the Chevy Colorado but it wasn't 100% I'm sure.

[DainBramaged]

13. There is no such thing as a 100% "American-Made" vehicle

Because even Toyota imports parts from Canada, Mexico, China, Japan, and India. Most GM cars are 85% "North American" content. Which means US/Canada. Canada has been a big part of GM (and Toyota) for years.


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[Fumesucker]

4. The money quotes.

The two- and four-door pickup, roughly the size of a Toyota Tacoma, will be powered by a 2.2-liter four-cylinder clean-diesel engine designed by Bosch. Output should be 145 horsepower with 300 lb-ft of torque. It will be offered in two- or four-wheel drive, and have a payload capacity of about 2,600 pounds.

...

Mahindra says a diesel-only model of the Appalachian, which will come out in 2009, will yield fuel economy in the 30- to 35-mpg range. Mileage for the diesel-hybrid version is expected to exceed 40 miles per gallon.

[doc03]

5. The picture in the PO looks like it would be

the size of the old model Tacoma pre 2006, like I said it looks like they made it from left over Tacoma, Datsun and Isuzu parts.

[Fumesucker]

9. You say that like it's a bad thing.. n/t

[lithiumbomb]

8. i'll believe it when i see it

Mahindra is certainly a capable company. But there have been lots of automakers from both India and China that have said 'we'll have Chinese/Indian cars in the US by 200x' for years and it has yet to happen (with the exception of some not-road-legal mini-trucks and some road legal NEV electrics). If they're able to do it, great. Don't get your hopes up yet though. They float these plans pretty often, I suspect to gauge interest and investment.

[lumberjack_jeff]

15. Mahindra makes good tractors

and they sell a lot of 'em in the US.

[JI7]

10. it's kind of funny looking

it almost looks like a toy for kids.

i don't see anyone here buying it.

[DainBramaged]

11. Let's see it meet US safety standards first. Oh and I noticed you left out

telling the Japanese to get their act together, as if they didn't make any gas guzzlers, OH and why don't they sell any diesels here, ever wonder, or is this just another attempt at bashing the Domestics (rather poorly I might add).

[lib2DaBone]

17. Let's make sure CONgress discourages anything "made in america"

..hey.. how 'bout tax breaks for junk not made in America? Wouldn't want to stimulate the American economy.. that's too simple.

[lib2DaBone]

18. good luck trying to get parts and/or service. Call India and wait on hold...