Automotive News [sub] reports that Global Vehicles, a firm with a contract to distribute Mahindra pickup trucks in the US, has dropped its lawsuit in US court in an apparent attempt to rescue its distribution deal. The contract between Mahindra and GV called for British arbitration of disputes, and apparently the British arbitration panel required that all claims be handled through it rather than in US courts. The dropped suit would have required Mahindra to press forward with its US launch regardless of pending arbitration. Mahindra, meanwhile, has said it is looking outside of its deal with GV for a US distributor, so it’s not clear if GV’s olive branch will even make a difference.
Meanwhile, Mahindra has not yet commented on the recent 19/21 MPG EPA rating earned by its truck, which has long been hyped as being capable of achieving 30 MPG on diesel fuel. GV’s John Perez says the matter is for the manufacturer to address, but, he tells AN [sub]:
The discrepancy may be a matter of which truck was tested. Mahindra plans to introduce two versions of the truck: a two-door, two-wheel-drive version, and a four-door, four-wheel-drive version. The four-door version with an automatic transmission gets 40 percent worse fuel economy than the two-door, Perez said. Mahindra provided the four-door version to the EPA for the initial fuel economy rating.
In a comment today to Automotive News, Perez maintained that the two-door truck will live up to its promised fuel economy in the 30-mpg range.
Import it but name it “Mothra.”
The obvious advertising tag line would be:
Floats like a moth but stings akin to a bee.”
The masses would just HAVE to own one!!!!! Or two. More?
The clamor for the critter would assuredly be immense.
Who says that advertising doesn’t sell.
Using herd/hordes of scantily-clad bodacious babes would also assist sales.
Heck, toss one of ’em in the back seat or cargo space, whatever would assure maximum sales!!!!!!!!!
Ain’t capitalism grand?
22 Inch rims an option?
That’s if it ever shows up.
A Sneak Peak? Someone needs to smack their ad copy writers upside the head.
Hey, Mahindra: In this context, it’s spelled “peek.” That’s what’s wrong with that picture.
The car blogosphere (and I hate that word) needs to get together and send a joint memo to both Mahindra and GV Autos:
Dear sirs:
We have been following this saga for more years than we can count. Until you have a viable vehicle ACTUALLY FOR SALE IN THE USA, will will not write another post about you.
Seriously, this drama is long stale.
These guys are never going to get their $hit together. So that means that I’m looking at Ford for an updated 1985 diesel Ranger. I can dream.
…and what a dream that is!
We need a Ranger Appreciation Week, TTAC.
The mileage explanation seems pretty sketchy.
Hard to imagine that kind of improvement comparing the 2 versions.
It’s still the same basic powertrain, no?