Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. Just received clearance from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to sell its diesel-powered pickup trucks in American, and the India-based company expects to have the first trucks on sale by the end of 2010.
The compact Mahindra TR20 and TR40 pickup trucks boast some impressive figures, with a claimed 30-mpg highway rating and 2,633-lb. payload capacity. It features a 2.2-liter four-cylinder, common-rail diesel engine teamed with a six-speed automatic transmission. The truck will be offered in 2WD and 4WD configuration. Both two- and four-door versions will be offered, sharing a 119.7-inch wheelbase. Pricing has not been announced, though Pickuptrucks.com estimates it will start at about $22,000.
Mahindra has been producing vehicles for 60 years, and it traces it roots to building official Willys Jeeps starting in 1949. The company was inspired by the ruggedness the Jeep displayed in battle, and rightfully thought its talents would be well-suited to the rigors of India. Over the years, the company evolved the basic concept to larger models, including a four-door Commander. Today, Mahindra has about 50 percent of the domestic market, and it sells models in 25 countries on six continents.
WSJ.com forecasts that Mahindra will follow the pickup trucks with an SUV based on its Scorpio about a year later, and it will eventually offer a gasoline-electric hybrid the following year.
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