February 22nd, 2010 by Byron Thurman

Filed under: Budget, Truck, Plants/Manufacturing, Work, India

Indian vehicle maker Mahindra is looking for a way to avoid import taxes when it puts its pickup truck and Scorpio sport utility on the U.S. market sometime in 2010, so it’s no surprise that Automotive News is reporting that the manufacturer is on the hunt for a stateside assembly location. It’s the same reason why there are Honda and Toyota plants here, and Mahindra is no stranger to selling vehicles in our market - or assembling them here, for that matter.

Already well established selling tractors to American farmers, Mahindra has three U.S. plants for its agricultural products already. Looking at how Mahindra has stretched out to many different regions and markets, there’s little doubt that assembling pickup trucks here in the U.S. from knock-down kits is going to be easy, as they’re already doing the same thing in Egypt and Brazil, for example.

The U.S. market has precious few true small pickup offerings left, the Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma and the Chevrolet Colorado/ GMC Canyon twins are about all there is, and there may be untapped potential for a well-priced truck, particularly one with a diesel engine. That’s what Mahindra is banking on, as it is apparently planning to make the United States one of its largest export markets.

[Source: Automotive News - sub req]

REPORT: Mahindra out shopping for new U.S. pickup factory originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Originally posted 2009-09-06 21:04:52. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

February 22nd, 2010 by Byron Thurman

Filed under: SUVs, Plants/Manufacturing, Jeep, India

No other brand is as patriotic as Jeep, boasting the WWII-era General Purpose military vehicle that helped win the war for the Allies. As it stands, current Jeeps are all U.S. made, with the Grand Cherokee and Commander hailing from the Detroit area, the Wrangler and Liberty being assembled in Toledo, Ohio and the Patriot and Compass coming from Illinois. That all seems set to change, though, as rumors swirl regarding India’s Argentum Motors being tapped to build some of the SUVs abroad. Before everyone gets too upset, consider that Jeeps have been built in many other countries in the past, with even the classic Wrangler coming from Canada for a time. What this means for American jobs, though, we don’t know. Colonel Bhagwati Prasad Suman from Argentum Motors suggests that any automaker building vehicles in India will save at least 15-percent in costs as compared to the United States. This being the case, we wouldn’t be at all shocked if the rumors were true and if more such announcements were made in the future.

[Source: Carscoop]

Jeeps could soon be built in India originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Oct 2008 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Originally posted 2009-04-22 20:27:10. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

January 29th, 2010 by Byron Thurman

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Motorcycles, India

Bajaj, India’s largest manufacturer of two-wheeled vehicles and holder of a 14.5% stake in X-Bow maker KTM, is known not only for innovations like adding fuel injection to small-bore motorcycles and introducing dual spark technology, but also for producing excellent advertisements and commercials for television. We highlighted one of their better videos a little over a year ago, and today we’ve run across another great one.

It seems Bajaj is trying to capitalize on Transformers mania with this video, and that’s fine by us. We’re not sure what three lonely bikes were doing hanging out in an abandoned gym, but every story needs a plot, right? Click past the break to watch the video in all its computer-generated glory.

[Source: YouTube via Bikes in the Fast Lane]

Continue reading VIDEO: Bajaj motorcycles ad ape Transformers, proves idea is still sound even without Megan Fox

VIDEO: Bajaj motorcycles ad ape Transformers, proves idea is still sound even without Megan Fox originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Originally posted 2009-05-01 01:37:34. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

January 20th, 2010 by Byron Thurman

Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, Marketing/Advertising, India

Rather than get all hung up on what’s in a model name, Mahindra may want U.S. consumers to become more familiar with the new-to-America brand itself. Initially, the Indian automaker’s mid-sized pickups were expected to carry the “Appalachian” moniker when they came to America, but now, PickupTruck.com is reporting that the trucks will probably go alphanumeric, if recent patent filings for TR20 and TR40 designations are anything to go by.

The website speculates that the “20″ and “40″ indicate two- and four-door versions of the trucks, which will be tweaked to better cater to buyers in the US market. The imported, Toyota Tacoma-sized, diesel-powered newcomers are expected to be available by December, no matter what they’re called.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Appalachian Breakdown: Mahindra to dump regional pickup name for alphanumerics? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Originally posted 2009-04-22 20:27:15. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

January 1st, 2010 by Byron Thurman

Filed under: Hybrid, Performance, Europe, Green, Japan, Australia, UK, India

According to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the long-anticipated right-hand-drive Roadster is coming in the first quarter of 2010 and will be available in both standard and Sport guise. The first market that’s slated for electrification is, as you would expect, the United Kingdom, and Tesla’s first European showroom has already opened up in Knightsbridge.

In addition to Great Britain, Musk has also indicated that Japan, Australia and India are seen as important right-hand-drive markets for the automaker to pursue in short order. The switch from LHD to RHD is surely made easier by the fact that the Lotus Elise, which shares a large portion of its chassis with the Roadster, was initially designed as a wrong right-hand vehicle.

Interestingly, there’s already a lone Tesla Roadster in Australia, but that left-hand-drive car was imported by a man named Simon Hackett for his own personal use at a cost of about $200,000 Australian dollars - nearly twice what a Roadster costs in the States. Click past the break to watch a short video segment featuring that car.

Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Go Auto]

Continue reading REPORT: Tesla planning to launch 2011 Roadster in more right-hand export markets

REPORT: Tesla planning to launch 2011 Roadster in more right-hand export markets originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Originally posted 2009-07-30 12:34:05. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

January 1st, 2010 by Byron Thurman

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Videos, India, Tata

The first customer to get a Tata Nano has taken delivery of the world’s cheapest car today. Tata Motors delivered the car to a Mr. Ashok Raghunath Vichare of Mumbai who paid just 100,000 rupees ($2,053 U.S.) for the car. The Nano went on sale earlier this year and has been a source of endless discussion since it was announced in early 2008. While incredibly cheap, other numbers for the tiny car are also impressive: the Automotive Research Association of India has rated the Nano at 56 miles-per-gallon U.S., and the car produces emissions of just 101 grams of CO₂ per km.

The Indian market is only the first step for the Nano - A Euro-spec model recently passed European crash tests and the car is still scheduled to come to the U.S. at some point in the not-too-distant future. Click on the gallery below or check out a video of the first Nano handover ceremony after the jump.

[Source: Tata Motors]

Continue reading REPORT: First Tata Nano delivered to customer in Mumbai [w/VIDEO]

REPORT: First Tata Nano delivered to customer in Mumbai [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Originally posted 2009-07-30 12:34:10. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

December 21st, 2009 by Byron Thurman

Filed under: Car Buying, China, Etc., India, South Korea

We’ve known for a while now that Mexicans are getting some Chinese cars with their ten gallon jars of pickles, but what about Americans? Would we go for vehicles from another country from across the Pacific? There’s a wonderful moment at the end of Tucker: A Man and his Dreams where Jeff Bridge’s Preston Tucker character pleads with the jury at his corruption trial that if American industry doesn’t change change course, we’ll soon be buying our cameras from the Japanese.

According to a new study, 15% of American new car shoppers are ready to buy cars from China, while 11% are ready to buy their wheels from India. Ready for the kicker? Just 16% said they would consider a car from Korea. Ouch. Said George Peterson, head of the study, “As Hyundai and Kia have been on the American scene for decades now, it’s surprising that consideration for Chinese and Indian brands, sight unseen, would be about as strong as it is for the Korean brands.” Surprising, sure. And if you live near Seoul, depressing. Full press release after the jump.

[Source: Auto Pacific]

Continue reading Americans warming to idea of Chinese, Indian autos?

Americans warming to idea of Chinese, Indian autos? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Originally posted 2009-07-30 08:58:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

December 15th, 2009 by Byron Thurman

Filed under: Coupes, Economy, India, Tata

The Tata Nano may be the most expensive vehicle ever to be the cheapest new car on earth. Violent protests at one of the car’s planned assembly sites have gotten so rampant that the Indian automaker is near a deal to exit the nearly completed West Bengal facility all together. Just a few days after a supplier CEO was killed by a mob of protesters, two body guards were also assaulted at the contentious facility. The controversy in West Bengal centers around the land that local farmers lost to the $200 million Euro facility, and with the building nearly complete, it’s hard to believe that land will be returned any time soon even if Tata did abandon the region.

Word out of India is that the state of Karnataka has offered Tata Motors 1,000 acres plus incentives to move Nano production there, and the local media is reporting that Tata is going to announce plans as early as next week. We’re not in the micro car business, but if we were, we’d avoid building them where there is the constant threat of being beaten or killed by an angry mob. Moving Nano production to a region that actually wants the Tata there seems like a foregone conclusion at this point.

[Source: Motor Trend]

Tata ready to move Nano plant away from contentious region originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Oct 2008 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Originally posted 2009-04-22 20:27:09. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

December 8th, 2009 by Byron Thurman

Filed under: Spy Photos, Budget, Truck, India, Tata

Now that Tata has put the World’s Cheapest Car on the market, is the Indian automaker ready to make a similar assault on the pickup truck market? Judging by a recent spy shot, it seems likely. It’s impossible to know for sure, but the truck’s three-lug wheels, single windshield wiper and dash layout indicate that this pickup might be based on the diminutive Nano.

Indian news outlets report that the pickup is codenamed Penguin and is powered by a single-cylinder diesel engine that displaces 350cc and is based on a slice of the Tata Ace and Indica engine block. That big thumper is hooked directly to the rear axle, an arrangement that will do away with the driveshaft and help lower cost. No word on if or when the Nano truck is slated for an official introduction. Hat tip to Shrawan!

[Source: Indian Autos Blog]

Project Penguin: Is Tata Motors planning a Nano-based pickup? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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December 1st, 2009 by Byron Thurman

Filed under: Budget, Hybrid, Hatchback, India, Tata

Tata Nano - Click above for high-res image gallery

Once again, Tata chairman Ratan Tata has confirmed via the South Korean Maeil Business Newspaper that his company intends to launch a hybrid version of the Nano. While it’s impossible to know for sure, we’d imagine that starting off with the World’s Least Expensive Automobile may very well equal the World’s Least Expensive Hybrid.

We’re also unsure what kind of hybrid system Tata is developing - we wouldn’t expect to see a full hybrid system with an electric motor and battery pack large enough to power the vehicle for long periods of time, but we’d still hope for something more substantial than a simple stop/start micro system.

Previous reports indicate that a diesel engine is also in the works for the Nano, and we have high hopes that the inexpensive machine will make its way in somewhat modified form to the United States. Even with its current drivetrain, the gas-powered Nano delivers well over 50 U.S. miles per gallon, which would surely make for a welcome option here in America.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]

REPORT: Ratan Tata again confirms hybrid Tata Nano originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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