No Thar trouble for Mahindra here

A big legal wrangle(r) has put focus on a model whose chances of NZ introduction were already slim.

DOMESTIC demand for a Mahindra four-wheel-drive in the spotlight in Australia for looking too much like a famous Jeep is such that it cannot be delivered to New Zealand regardless of whether introduction triggered a fight.

Auckland-domiciled Premium Distributors New Zealand has made clear any hope it might have once held for selling the Thar – in trouble for being a look-a-like for the Jeep Wrangler – has been overtaken by other events extramural to a high-profile legal fight that has been playing out across the Tasman.

 While PDNZ indicated last August it was keen to sell the Thar (above) here, no examples have ever arrived.

The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic in India where the car is made were an initial disruption, but now the global shortfall in semiconductor computer chips is also causing huge disruption to the brand.

On top of this, and notwithstanding the crippling impact coronavirus has had on India’s population, the car has been a strong success in its home market.

Mahindra is so focused on fulfilling 50,000 domestic back orders it has basically put export plans on hold.

“They can only make 3000-4000 a month and they are getting 6000 orders. It’s a huge success.”

Regardless, the determination by the maker to take a single vehicle into Australia for evaluation and, potentially, homologation for sale was enough to trigger a litigation by Jeep there.

That stoush in the Australian Federal Court ended last week with Mahindra agreeing not to import the car in its current guise.

PDNZ has directed media inquiry about the case to head office in India and the marque’s Australian franchise, which is run directly by the factory.

When it first discussed the Thar, PDNZ said it would not be after Wrangler buyers because the Mahindra would be significantly cheaper.

Instead, the operation’s sights were on another off-road hero, one firmly stuck in the sub-$30,000 end of the mud-flinging sector – the Suzuki Jimny.  

As per the Suzuki, the Thar offers in dual-range part-time four-wheel-drive but is a bit bigger and around 540kg heavier, though it also offers a longer wheelbase, a roomier cabin (with four or six seat layouts depending on trim) and comes with a diesel engine, an option Suzuki doesn’t have. 

With the Mahindra, too, there’s a mechanical locking rear diff, front sway bar disconnect and larger fuel tank. It also provisions in soft top or hard top formats.

Thar sits on a ladder-frame chassis, has front-axle disconnect, differential on both ends via brakes, and a mechanical rear locking differential. The off-roading angles are a 41.8 degree approach, 36.8 degree departure and 27 degree breakover.

When equipped with 18-inch wheels and 225/65 tyres as an option to the entry 245/75 R16 set the ground clearance is 226mm and 650mm wading depth.

The Thar as it looks presently only hit the scene last year. It represents a big step forward on a first-generation predecessor vehicle through adopting electronic assists including tyre direction monitoring, electronic stability, hill hold assist and hill descent control. India-market models have only dual airbags and basic electronic safety aids, but it was expected export vehicles would achieve more safety inclusions.

While some reports have suggested the Federal Court decision has effectively banned the vehicle from sale in Australia in its current guise, others say that Mahindra has only agreed to give Jeep 90 days’ forward notice of any intention to certify and import this version or a future variant.

The CarAdvice website noted that Mahindra could apply to sell the vehicle in Australia at a later date, however it is likely Jeep would take legal action to intervene again.

Meantime, today Jeep announced it will celebrate its 80th anniversary with a run of special editions of the Wrangler Unlimited, whose design is most directly drawn from the ‘original’ Jeep look that has proven so controversial, as well as the Grand Cherokee and Cherokee.

It is not clear if any of the 80th Anniversary Jeep are coming to NZ.