Indian Automaker Mahindra to Build and Sell Diesel Pickup Trucks in the United States
posted July 5, 2008 - 9:50amThis is great news for anyone looking for a basic truck with impressive performance stats for a reasonable price. According to the article the Mahindra Appalachian will be similar in size to the Toyota Tacoma but will offer much improved gas mileage (30 to 35 miles-per-gallon) and increased cargo capacity - 1.3-ton (2,60 -lb) payload in its 7.5-foot cargo box. By comparison, the 2008 Toyota Tacoma has a max payload rating of 1,685-lbs and the 2008 Dodge Dakota has a max payload of 1,720-lbs.
Article Summary:
Two-wheel and Four-wheel-drive versions will be available in 2009.
Mahindra has plans to offer a diesel hybrid pickup in the US by 2010, promising even higher fuel economy figures than the initial offering of a diesel-only truck.
This is the first time a diesel hybrid powertrain has been announced by a truck manufacturer for the U.S. market.
The diesel-only pickup would start at $22,000.
Mahindra spokesman, John Perez, CEO of Global Vehicles U.S.A. (GV-USA), an Alpharetta, Georgia-based automotive import company, who's leading the effort to bring the Indian pickup to the US says, "It's a $40,000 truck that we're going to sell in the mid-$20,000s. This is not Chinese junk."
Production starts March 15, 2009 in India but final assembly of the pickup will take place at an unannounced location in Ohio.
Website: http://www.pickuptrucks.com/html/news/mahindra/die...

Comments
Small Diesel!
I am very excited about this, being a diesel lover this truck will probably end up in my drive way. Ford, Chevy and Dodge should take notice, this is a market that could blow up in the future.
The big three make a good diesel product but they are way too expensive to be a daily driver, a truck in the mid $20's and gets in the 30 mpg range will fill a need. And the engine is made in Germany so the quality should be good.
http://www.xomba.com/user/beh076
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