Mahindra’s US dreams delayed

American dreams will have to wait for the time being for the Mahindras. The sport utility vehicle maker, which had been waiting for a splash in the US market, is being forced to wait for the time being.

The reason being said is that the auto major is awaiting clearance from the US homologation department in this regard. Homologation has been defined as the certification of a product or specification to indicate that it meets regulatory standards, including safety and emission norms, crash test, road-worthiness of the vehicle. Such approvals are provided by government-funded or public service organisations, said a media report. The company’s move if it succeeds will make it the first Indian major to launch passenger vehicles in the world’s largest automobile market of the US.   The company also aims to export sports utility vehicles, including the Scorpio, to the North American market in the next few years.

According to the company, its range of passenger vehicles including its pick-up trucks are expected to hit the American markets this year. The company already has a presence in the US through its medium-to-high powered tractors, the company added. The company is believed to have built and readied its products for the US market. The auto major in fact has lined up the pick-up range of the Scorpio model, while the homologation clearance takes its own official time.

In the meantime, the auto major is lining up what is termed as one of the most forward looking moves towards making the company a global behemoth. The pick-up trucks the company s lined up for are also based on the Scorpio platform, which was developed more than six years ago. The US market considers pick-up trucks as passenger vehicles. Significantly, the US is also the world’s largest pick-up market.