Mahindra to Debut US Operations in Q1 2010

The Indian auto maker Mahindra & Mahindra has recently confirmed it will go ahead as planned with their United States strategy. The Indian company announced earlier in August it wants to make its presence know on American soil.

And the way Mahindra plans to do this is quite bombastic too, especially when you look at the current global economic climate and other car manufacturers' plans to survive.

Mahindra is already present in the US as a tractor maker in the farming market and runs three production facilities there, but when it comes to the passenger vehicle market things start to surprise.

The Indian auto maker plans to open 300 dealerships throughtout the United States. Dr. Pawan Goenka, head of the group's automotive division, told earlier this year in an interview with just-auto.com that Mahindra wants to start US operations in the first quarter of 2010.

Additionally, the Indians have announced plans to buy a production facility in the US, even if no possible locations have yet been made public.

The plan first aims the introduction of a pickup range from Mahindra and later the debut of a new diesel engine that will meet even the most drastic emissions standard.

Mahindra's bold strategy bases its success on their vehicles low price tags. However, failing is not an option for the Indian car maker, which posted in February this year a 99 percent drop in profits for the third quarter of 2008.