2 weeks ago
Mahindra renews global push after cutting losses with pickup trucks
Mahindra is a big car company in India.
For the last five years, it was selling off businesses in other countries that were losing money.
Now it wants to grow in other countries again.
It plans to do this by selling special vehicles called pickup trucks.
A pickup truck has a space in front for people and an open space at the back for carrying things.
Mahindra wants to sell these trucks in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
In India, it also wants to see if people like a new type of pickup truck called the Scorpio Lifestyler.
The company already has a factory in South Africa that can make 1,000 pickup trucks each month.
Mahindra became the second-biggest car company in India, passing another company called Hyundai.
Mahindra and Mahindra is renewing its global push, targeting South Africa, Australia and New Zealand with niche pickup trucks.
The move follows five years of exits from loss-making international businesses, including subsidiaries in Japan, Finland and Sri Lanka that incurred about ₹313 crore in annual losses.
The company is open to new assembly plants abroad if unit economics or local regulations require it, but has no immediate plans.
In India, Mahindra wants to gauge demand for its new Scorpio Lifestyler in a pickup segment worth roughly 4,000-5,000 units a year, where Toyota and Isuzu are the only players.
Mahindra rose to the number two position in India in FY2026, ending Hyundai Motor India's 16-year hold on the spot.
- Who
- Mahindra and Mahindra, led by group CEO and MD Anish Shah; automotive division CEO Nalinikanth Gollagunta and automotive business president Velusamy R. spoke to reporters on Saturday.
- What
- The company is renewing its global expansion push, focusing on niche pickup trucks, after five years of exiting loss-making international businesses.
- Where
- Target markets are South Africa, Australia and New Zealand; the company also wants to gauge demand in India with its new Scorpio Lifestyler.
- When
- Announced on Saturday; Anish Shah completed five years as group CEO and MD in April this year.
- Why
- To back profitable businesses after cutting losses, while expanding globally and increasing volumes in the domestic market.
Key facts
- Company
- Mahindra and Mahindra
- Group CEO and MD
- Anish Shah
- Target markets
- South Africa, Australia and New Zealand
- South Africa assembly plant capacity
- 1,000 vehicles per month
- Annual losses shed through exits
- About ₹313 crore (2.2% of consolidated profit)
- Consolidated profit (as of 31 March 2025)
- ₹14,073 crore
- India pickup truck segment
- Estimated 4,000-5,000 units annually; Toyota and Isuzu are the only players
- New India offering
- Scorpio Lifestyler, with demand to be assessed over the next six months
Quotes
Velusamy R., president of automotive business at Mahindra and Mahindra
President of automotive business at Mahindra & Mahindra
“"We had seen customers who want the pickup character, who want the SUV character, and who want the 4x4 character. If you put all of them together, Mahindra has the deep pickup expertise, and it has the deep SUV expertise."”
livemint.com
“"We are open to the idea but we will only do it when it makes sense according to the market's local dynamics. There are a lot of factors to take into account, which include regulatory aspects and free trade agreements."”
livemint.com
Sources
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