New Delhi, 12 February 2008: Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd plans to assemble and sell thousands of light pickup trucks annually in the United States by 2010, a top company executive said on Tuesday.

According to M&M President Mr.Pawan Goenka, the company also is aiming at selling in the US Sport Utility Vehicles sent as Complete Built Units (CBUs) from India.

"The company will send 'semi-knock-down' kits for the light pickups from India to the United States", Mr.Goenka told The Associated Press.

"We are looking at the possibility of assembling pickup trucks in the United States through a contract manufacturer by 2010,'' Mr. Goenka said. "The vehicles are expected to be in the mid-$20,000 (Euro13,753.27) range", he added.

Mr.Goenka however declined to identify the US contract manufacturer as the company was still holding talks with it.

Mahindra has a partnership with Atlanta, Georgia-based Global Vehicles USA, which will distribute the vehicles and manage a network of US dealers, as reported by the Wall Street Journal on Monday.

Global Vehicles Chief Executive Mr.John Perez was cited by the Wall Street Journal as saying the assembler isn't a major US auto maker but has a history of assembling vehicles there.

Mahindra is one of the top 10 industrial operations in India, making trucks, sport utility vehicles, cars and tractors. Its tractor operation is among the top three in the world, as claimed by the company.

Last year, the company unveiled a line of Sports Utility Vehicles and trucks which it plans to sell in the United States.

The company and partner Renault SA sell the "low-cost" Logan car in India. Mahindra also has a partnership with International Truck and Engine Corp. The Mahindra Group also has businesses in the financial services, trade and logistics, steel and information technology sectors.