Mahindra initially planned to start selling its two and four-door pickup trucks here in the U.S. as early as this past spring.
Due to delays in the EPA certification process for its 2.2-liter I-4 diesel engine, the truck’s launch date has been pushed back several times already. The situation became bad enough that it caused Mahindra’s U.S. distributor, Global Vehicles U.S.A., to sue the Indian truck maker. Dealers and Global Vehicles alike have already paid millions of dollars in franchise fees, but have yet to deliver a single vehicle.
That may soon change with the EPA’s emissions certification. The diesel powerplant was able to pass testing by injecting urea into the exhaust gases, common among modern diesel engines, to reduce the harmful gases produced. The pending EPA certification is just one of the hurdles that needs to be checked before Mahindra begins importing the light-duty trucks.
Mahindra has also modified its trucks for the U.S. market’s crash testing regulations by adding a completely revised front fascia and grille guard. The revised offering has reportedly been approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, according to Mahindra.
via Pickuptrucks.com courtesy of Motor Trend Magazine
