The compact truck segment will be expanding just a tad as Indian auto manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra will have its compact diesel pickups available in the U.S. by late 2009. Despite earlier reports that Mahindra's U.S. introduction had been postponed until 2010, Global Vehicles USA CEO John Perez affirmed the Indian trucks would be in dealers by this year. GV USA is the Georgia-based auto import company responsible for bringing upcoming Mahindra vehicles into the U.S.
The Mahindra pickups will be the first mass Indian-made vehicles to debut in the U.S. A two-door standard cab and four-door crew cab will be available, with both trucks being powered by a slightly modified version of Mahindra's "mHawk" 2.2L I-4 diesel engine. To correspond with the cab configurations, the trucks' names are likely to be TR20 and TR40. Fuel economy is expected to rate as high as 30 mpg, and a 1.3-ton hauling capability is offered. Pricing information for the pickups is expected in September, and a diesel hybrid version of the Mahindra truck is reportedly in the works, but is being held up for the time being.
While the trucks will make their debut by this year, the major launch for the vehicles will continue into 2010.