India's Mahindra & Mahindra Looking To Launch in U.S.

MUMBAI, India — Indian utility-vehicle specialist Mahindra & Mahindra has charted out plans to increase its presence in the Europe market, also adding the U.S. as a top target, according to Mahindra boss Pawan Goenka.

Goenka plans to launch in the U.S. later this year with a heavily re-engineered version of the Scorpio. The SUV will be sold by a newly appointed network of 300 dealers. He admitted that the move is just the start of the firm's plans, saying, "We want to be a global player in utility vehicles."

"If volumes are good, we will think about making cars in the U.S., and then we will be looking at Europe with a higher focus," said Goenka.

Mahindra has a limited presence in Europe currently, but the company wants to expand into the U.K. as well. Rumors are that the company is currently working on a far more sophisticated version of the Scorpio to be launched in 2011. It will be a monocoque-chassis 4x4, a first for Mahindra.

Goenka is adamant that Mahindra will not be branching out into sedans. "We never intend to be in passenger cars on our own. It's too crowded and competitive a market," he said.

Inside Line says: Another industry player looks to go global. — Hormazd Sorabjee, Editor, Autocar India