Mahindra gets thumbs-up from logistics company

Indian carmaker Mahindra,which is set to expand its operations in the Philippines with the Alvarez auto group, has already gotten approval from some potential customers. The Alvarez group also distributes BMW, Kia, and Peugeot. Mahindra, the largest vehicle manufacturer in India, was recently given a thumbs up by several individuals from different logistics companies after subjecting its vehicles in a field test.

Chris Guidotti, vice president for procurement of LBC, said the Mahindra vehicles they tested passed the durability and reliability standards for vehicles that need to be on the road almost 24/7 and in different types of terrain.

Mahindra, which is currently expanding its operations in the Philippines, has been inviting key officials of different companies to test its vehicles. It is set to introduce its new models before the end of 2014.

The Indian vehicle manufacturing giant is bullish about the continued expansion of presence in the Philippine market due to confidence in the steady and sustained growth of the domestic economy.

Mahindra, the largest vehicle manufacturer in India, has a joint venture with Willys Jeep, a popular US brand of rugged recreational vehicles, since the 1950s.

Mahindra is the largest seller of tractors in the world and is present in more than 100 countries in the world. It is set to buy a 51-percent stake in Peugeot Motorcyles.

Originally set up as a steel trading company in 1945 by brothers KC Mahindra, JC Mahindra and Malik Ghulam Mohammed, M&M eventually saw a business opportunity in expanding into manufacturing and selling larger multipurpose utility vehicles (MUVs), with assembling the Willys Jeep under license in India.

After establishing itself as the Jeep manufacturers of India, the company commenced manufacturing light commercial vehicles (LCVs) and agricultural tractors.

Today, Mahindra & Mahindra Limited is a key player in the utility vehicle manufacturing sector in the Indian automobile industry. The company boasts of presence in both the automotive and farming industries in more than 20 countries worldwide. Mahindra’s agreement with the Alvarez group is set to pave the way for the aggressive expansion of Mahindra’s presence in the country.