Look who's beating the Chinese to the US market...

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=12&article_id=5444

While the Shanghai auto show was taking place half a world away, another emerging world economic power was unveiling its first-ever vehicle lineup bound for the United States.

Mahindra Automotive will begin selling three models—2-door and 4-door pickup trucks and a midsize 7-passenger SUV—in late 2008 or early 2009. Features include a 4-cylinder common-rail diesel engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, available shift-on-the-fly all-wheel drive and a 4-year/60,000-mile warranty.

The 2-door truck will have the longest and deepest bed in its class. Pricing and specifications will be announced in a few months, but it should be priced around $20,000, with the 4-door version in the low $20s and the SUV starting in the mid-$20s.

The dated styling may leave a lot to be desired, but consumers will appreciate the fuel mileage benefits of the diesel—ratings could be as high as 39 mpg.

Mahindra is one of the biggest industrial concerns in India and is no stranger to automobile manufacturing. The company began building Jeeps under license with Willys in 1954, and in 2005 formed a joint venture with Renault to manufacture and market the Indian-built, worldwide-distributed Renault Logan.