New Delhi. In India, Mahindra is known for making all-time hit SUVs like Bolero, Scorpio and Thar. The company has been popular for its SUVs not only in the country but also abroad. Mahindra's Roxor offroader is very popular especially in the US market. However, the company cannot sell even a single unit of its most popular SUV sold in India in the foreign market.
Restrictions have been imposed on the company to sell this car abroad, due to which despite being a good SUV, the company cannot sell it in the international market. Let us know what is the reason for this and why restrictions have been imposed on the sale of this model.
History of Mahindra and Jeep
Mahindra is known for making SUVs in India, while Jeep is known worldwide for making powerful SUVs and amazing off-road cars. There is a connection between these two companies and a fight that lasted for 15 years. Jeep was earlier known as Willis Jeep. KC Mahindra and JC Mahindra took license from Jeep in 1947 and started making Jeep in India and named it Roxor. This Jeep became very popular among the people and in 1987 Chrysler acquired Jeep.
Mahindra got its main recognition in the year 1996 when the company launched the classic Jeep car. Meanwhile, in the year 2009, Chrysler made an agreement with Mahindra that the company will no longer make cars with 7 grill design. Meanwhile, in 2010, Mahindra launched Thar for the first time and 5 years later in the year 2014, Fiat bought Jeep Chrysler and the company became known as Fiat Chrysler Auto (FCA).
allegations against mahindra
Then in the year 2019, FCA filed a case against Mahindra in the US court and accused Mahindra of copying the design of Jeep cars. FCA claimed that Mahindra has taken the design of Roxor and Thar sold in Australia and US markets from Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. Let us tell you that in the year 2020, Mahindra launched the second generation of Thar.
The company revealed plans to launch the Thar in Australia in 2020, but in 2021 the company had to step back. FCA filed a lawsuit against Mahindra in the Federal Court of Australia alleging that the company had copied the design of the Jeep Wrangler. On this, the Federal Court ruled that the Thar looks similar to the Jeep Wrangler and Mahindra was forced to postpone its plan to import the Thar to Australia.
Who won?
Eventually in 2023, the US court ruled in favor of Mahindra and Mahindra won the case. However, the company can no longer sell the Thar in any country other than India. The company also had to make some changes in the Roxor sold in the US market. In this way, the battle between Mahindra and Jeep ended in 2023.
Currently, Mahindra can sell its Thar SUV in India, but cannot export it to any country due to restrictions imposed by the International Court. If Mahindra wants to sell Thar in other countries, then it will have to change the design of the SUV.
Tags: Auto News, Mahindra and Mahindra
FIRST PUBLISHED : September 20, 2024, 13:01 IST