Indian automakers aim to eat Detroit's lunch

Mahindra & Mahindra’s small diesel-powered trucks to go on sale here by the end of this year, while Tata Motors’ Nano car is slated stateside in 2011.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — It wasn’t too long ago that the thought of buying a reliable car from Korea seemed laughable. Today, Korean vehicles are common fare and automakers from India are getting ready to invade the U.S. market.

Experts say their vehicles are no joke. Plus, Detroit’s turmoil could give Indian automakers a foot in the door here.

With General Motors and Chrysler both looking to save money, in part by trimming their dealer ranks, hundreds of new-car dealers could be ready to sign up with new competitors like these.

By the end of 2009, U.S. auto shoppers will be able to buy a mid-sized Mahindra pick-up truck and already almost 350 dealerships have signed on to sell it nationwide, according to Georgia-based Global Vehicles U.S.A., Mahindra’s North American distributor. As a serious towing-and-hauling truck, Mahindra’s small pick-up is aimed at taking a chunk of America’s big bread-and-butter market.

In addition, Tata Motors has said it intends to begin selling its Nano microcar here by 2011 for those seeking an ultra-cheap and fuel-efficient vehicle.

CNN