Mahindra plans to become a globally recognized brand in the coming years. With this aim in mind, the Mumbai based SUV makers are said to be working on a joint strategy with automakers such as SsangYong, Saab and Peugeot Citroen.
Mahindra has already arrived in the US with Mahindra’s North American Technical Center (MNATC) in Troy, Detroit. Here they manufacturer their GenZe electric scooter for US customers. They also plan to use this facility to develop their future cars for global market.
Speaking about entry into new countries, Russia is SsangYong’s largest export market. As the brand is already has a good exposure there, Mahindra plans to use this as a good way to launch their own vehicles in the coming years. Same goes for China. SsangYong has just made its entry into China and within a couple of years, once SsangYong is established in China as a brand, Mahindra will launch their products in China as well. Mahindra and SsangYong will also work on markets in Chile following their success in Africa.
While both Mahindra and SsangYong will work independently, they will share synergies and are said to be working on a global branding strategy coming into effect in the months ahead. Following acquisition by M&M three years ago, SsangYong will be launching their first product in January 2015. This X100 compact SUV will rival Ford EcoSport in India. To mark their presence in global markets, Mahindra-SsangYong are also said to be planning the S103 MPV to rival Maruti Ertiga and Honda Mobilio with will be based on X100 platform.
With launch of new cars under the SsangYong nameplate, Mahindra plans to enter many new markets with an even deeper penetration. Apart from this, they also plan to have an alliance with globally recognized manufacturers like Peugeot and Saab in order to establish themselves as a global player.
As far as India is concerned, M&M looks ahead for better sales during the upcoming festive season. August sales of the company declined 7.18% at 35,175 units while the company had sold 37,897 units in August 2013. Domestic sales dipped 5.72% from 35,159 units in August 2013 to 33,145 units last month while exports dipped 25.85% from 2,738 units in August 2013 to 2,030 units in August 2014.
via Economic Times
