Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - (Page 19) SEPTEMBER 1, 2008 • 19 Mahindra delays U.S. retail launch until 4th quarter of ’09 Lindsay Chappell lchappell@crain.com ADEEL HALIM/REUTERS Mahindra is planning an SUV based on the Scorpio, above, for the U.S. Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. of India has pushed back its U.S. retail launch by several months until the fourth quarter of 2009. Sales will start with an Indianmade compact pickup for which no name has been selected. The line’s second product, a compact SUV based on the same platform, will arrive in early 2010. Pickup: The pickup, which probably will receive an alphanumeric name, will come in two- and four- door configurations. One engine will be available: a 2.2liter four-cylinder diesel. The pickup will boast a 1.3-ton cargo capacity, and U.S. sales executives say the vehicle will deliver more than 30 mpg on the highway. But the official EPA testing has not been conducted. SUV: The Mahindra SUV is based on the Indian-market Scorpio, but the manufacturer has been overhauling the U.S. version over the past year. U.S. project officials say the 2010 version will have a completely upgraded interior, a re- designed front end and more upmarket features, such as vehicle stability control. The Mahindra venture — managed in the United States by independent distributor Global Vehicles USA Inc., of Alpharetta, Ga. — recently revised its plans. Diesel hybrid vehicles have been indefinitely delayed, says the company. Additional vehicles, including a diesel crossover and a second diesel pickup on a longer wheelbase, are expected after 2010. c U.S. plans fizzle for most Chinese vehicles Charles Child cchild@crain.com Need Salespeople, Tech’s, Managers & Other Employees? The Auto Industry’s #1 Recruiting, Training & Marketing Company Salespeople~BDC~Detailer~Porter~Technician Body Tech~Service Advisor~Service Manager Parts Counter~Parts Manager~Sales Manager Finance Manager~Office Staff~GSM~GM Plans by Chinese automakers to enter the United States have largely fizzled. Chery Automobile Co., through a deal to assemble cars for Chrysler LLC, stands a chance of entering the United States by 2011. And Brilliance Jinbei Automotive Co., a small Chinese automaker, says it plans to sell cars in the United States in 2009. But other Chinese import plans are in disarray. Enthusiasm for Chinese vehicles was created mainly by hype from American promoters and wishful thinking from small Chinese automakers that were unaware of the difficulties of selling cars in the United States. In July 2007, Tom LaSorda, then CEO of Chrysler, announced a deal in which Chery would assemble vehicles for Chrysler to sell in the United States. At the time, sources said the vehicles would arrive in America in mid-2009. But since the announcement, Chrysler has revealed few details about its relationship with Chery. A major supplier to Chery says Chery has no definite timeline to begin exports to the United States for either Chery- or Chrysler-badged vehicles. “We need small cars,” LaSorda said in May. “Chery’s cars are still not ready for that exposure into these markets.” He said China-built cars probably won’t be ready to meet U.S. safety and emissions standards for “three years or more.” By year end, Chery plans to start shipping its A1 small car to Mexico, where it will be sold with a Chrysler brand. Chrysler and Chery also are creating a vehicle for developing markets that will not be sold in North America. Also in Mexico, a major Chinese automaker, China FAW Group Corp., says it will operate a plant there. In December FAW established a joint venture with a Mexican partner to produce by 2010 two FAW-badged small cars for Mexico and Central America. Brilliance Jinbei Automotive says it plans to display cars, including the BS4, shown, at the Detroit auto show in January and sell cars in the United States in 2009, but it has declined to give details. 800-421-4550 www.clickhereforadvice.com Brian C. Hall, President & CEO “ We need small cars. Chery’s cars are still not ready for that exposure into these markets. TOM LaSORDA Chrysler ” MG project dies Meanwhile, plans by other Chinese automakers to sell vehicles in the United States have largely evaporated. Oklahoma City investor Marc Nuttle devised a plan with Nanjing Automobile Group to produce MG sports cars from kits in Ardmore, Okla. Production was scheduled to begin this year, but the plan appears dead. Financially troubled Nanjing was acquired in December 2007 by another Chinese automaker, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. MG production began Aug. 1 in Great Britain. An SAIC spokeswoman said she has heard of no plans to proceed with the Oklahoma project. Calls to Nuttle have not been returned. Oklahoma does have one smallscale Chinese project under way. Tiger Truck LLC in Poteau, Okla., is increasing production of two pickups designed by Chongqing Changan Automobile Co. The Chinese automaker plans to eventually produce 8,800 per year. The pickups have not passed federal safety and emissions standards, so Tiger Truck has sold them since 1999 for off-public-road uses, such as construction sites. But Oklahoma’s governor signed a law making the trucks legal on Oklahoma roads, except for most federal highways, starting in November. In 2006, Zhejiang Geely Automobile Group, a small but up-and-coming automaker in China, said it planned to enter the United States in 2008. But the company backed away from that timetable and now is saying little specific about its plans. In a statement to Automotive News, the company said: “We have a clear goal for our product: the most environmentally friendly, the safest and the most fuel-efficient car. “We do not want people to think that the China-made car will win on price alone. We believe at the correct time we will enter the North American market. We are convinced that this will not be in a very long time.” SEE PROFIT POTENTIAL LIKE NEVER BEFORE! Chamco meltdown The meltdown of would-be distributor Chamco Auto, of Parsippany, N.J., killed another plan to bring Chinese vehicles to the United States. Operations of Chamco, accused of fraud by former employees, are controlled by federal courts. Chamco had planned to import vehicles from Hebei Zhongxing Automobile Co., a minor Chinese automaker. Zhongxing says it canceled its contract with Chamco and says it is talking with other possible importers. In recent years, various Chinese automakers, such as BYD Auto Co. and Hunan Changfeng Motor Co., have displayed vehicles at Detroit’s North American International Auto Show. But the companies have not revealed specific plans to enter the United States. Brilliance Jinbei said it plans to show cars in Detroit in January and sell cars in the United States in 2009. But it declined to provide details. c Yang Jian and Namrita Chow in Shanghai, Lan Lan in Beijing and Diana T. Kurylko in New York contributed to this report with Crystal Fusion windshield protection… Boost Profits • A proven profit-generating program • Easy to sell; easy to install • Five Year Warranty administered by Safe-Guard Products International, LLC Energize F & I • Adds revenue to the sale and transferable value to the vehicle • Offers a tangible, easily recognized benefit Enhance the Driver Experience • Improves visibility and driver reaction time • Makes glass up to 10x stronger • Significantly reduces night glare Clear profit opportunities 1-866-529-5999 See our ad in the recruitment section. Become a Crystal Fusion agent today. mention code 818 • see www.cftproducts.com http://www.clickhereforadvice.com http://www.cftproducts.com http://www.cftproducts.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - September 1, 2008 Automotive News - September 1, 2008 'Mr. Big Volume' hit again Auto ad spending plummets American Axle to grow outside U.S. Nissan, Renault aim to share more parts Steven Ribet joins Automotive News in Shanghai Salaried workers face the ax Asbury to challenge verdict Lutz wants loan guarantees VW passes Ford as No. 3 global seller in 1st half Suzuki in disguise Dodge hopes smooth ride of coil springs will distinguish Ram Candidates split on union organizing bill Check in the mail? Toyota, Ford can tell 10 CTS stays true to concept GM shifts some vehicle design work to U.S. Infiniti may add cars, big and small BMW slashes production of big engines Toyota cuts sales forecast Chrysler: Viper lures suitors Honda hybrid plan bets big on small cars Ford starts L-M consolidation meetings Obama renews aid offer — industry wants it now Honda taps rainwater to create wetlands U.S. loans could make sense, but can't be a bailout Wanna buy a car? Wanna buy a brand? PPG story recalls Exner's Imperial Toyota goofed on Scion; is Prius next? Editor grows up; import vet pleased Field reps blamed for GM's problems Honda Insight engine isn't noiseless Trucks, Vette fine; rest of GM, blah Reynolds to dealers: Replace aging servers by year end Saddle up! Dem delegates honor slain Arkansas dealer Kia makes a mark of its own Koreans step up; Indians step cautiously; Chinese step back The next batch of new Hyundais: Smaller, more fuel efficient To give fuel economy a boost, Hyundai spends big on r&d U.S. plans fizzle for most Chinese vehicles Mahindra delays U.S. retail launch until 4th quarter of '09 Dealers Personnel Despite tough times, Galpin profits by pimping rides Web service leads grow Uh, I didn't mean to say you should retire Remembering Phil Hill, racing's modest giant Mulally to speak at gadget show GM picks Volt battery supplier Split verdict in fraud case July auto output was up in Japan Bob Fisher Dems reopen the CAFE Hummer, king of the desert? MG remains a no-show in North America Mustang silly Protests could bring ta-ta from Tata The politicians (and I) need a new road map Welburn's design journey began in Philly Automotive News - September 1, 2008 Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - (Page Intro) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - American Axle to grow outside U.S. (Page 1) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - American Axle to grow outside U.S. (Page 2) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Suzuki in disguise (Page 3) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - 10 CTS stays true to concept (Page 4) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - 10 CTS stays true to concept (Page 5) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Chrysler: Viper lures suitors (Page 6) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Chrysler: Viper lures suitors (Page 7) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Obama renews aid offer — industry wants it now (Page 8) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Obama renews aid offer — industry wants it now (Page 9) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Honda taps rainwater to create wetlands (Page 10) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Honda taps rainwater to create wetlands (Page 11) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Field reps blamed for GM's problems (Page 12) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Field reps blamed for GM's problems (Page 13) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Trucks, Vette fine; rest of GM, blah (Page 14) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Saddle up! (Page 15) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Dem delegates honor slain Arkansas dealer (Page 16) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Koreans step up; Indians step cautiously; Chinese step back (Page 17) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - To give fuel economy a boost, Hyundai spends big on r&d (Page 18) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Mahindra delays U.S. retail launch until 4th quarter of '09 (Page 19) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Personnel (Page 20) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Web service leads grow (Page 21) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Web service leads grow (Page 22) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Web service leads grow (Page 23) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Web service leads grow (Page 24) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Uh, I didn't mean to say you should retire (Page 25) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Uh, I didn't mean to say you should retire (Page 26) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - July auto output was up in Japan (Page 27) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Bob Fisher (Page 28) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Bob Fisher (Page 29) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Welburn's design journey began in Philly (Page 30) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Welburn's design journey began in Philly (Page 31) Automotive News - September 1, 2008 - Welburn's design journey began in Philly (Page 32)
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.