Fiat Chrysler's Not Happy With Mahindra's Jeep Lookalike ATV

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

Imitation, they say, is the sincerest form of flattery, but Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is none too pleased with an Indian automaker’s plan to foist a Jeep CJ-like all-terrain vehicle on the United States market.

Mahindra & Mahindra’s Roxor is a larger ATV with a conventional layout and appearance that splits the difference between brush-busting fare from Polaris, et al, and road-legal off-roaders like the Jeep Wrangler. There’s a 2.5-liter inline-four diesel up front, and drivers put the power to all four wheels via an honest-to-goodness five-speed manual transmission. Oh, and it really, really looks like a Jeep CJ. We’re gaga over them.

FCA sure isn’t.

Production kicked off at Mahindra’s Michigan assembly facility this spring, but FCA’s only just now speaking out against it. Hoping to halt sales, the automaker filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission, claiming the Roxor infringes on the designs of its Jeep division.

Mahindra assembles the Roxor via knock-down kits imported from India. There, the vehicle is road legal.

In FCA’s August 1st complaint (obtained by Bloomberg), FCA mentions the Roxor’s “boxy body shape with flat-appearing vertical sides and rear body ending at about the same height as the hood.” The automaker included photos of its vehicle and the Roxor side-by-side.

“They are a nearly identical copy of the iconic Jeep design,” FCA stated, adding that the Roxor was “modeled after the original Willys Jeep.”

Mahindra sees the Roxor as its best bet to get established in North America. In recent years, the Indian auto giant spent nearly a quarter-billion dollars setting up an assembly plant in suburban Detroit, plus technical and engineering facilities in Troy.

Sales began in March via a network of 300 ATV retailers. While the Roxor isn’t rated for highway duties (it lacks turn signals and windshield wipers), its steel body, 62 horsepower and 144 lb-ft of torque, and generous proportions set it apart from other ATVs. Top speed is limited to 45 mph. Pricing starts at $15,549 for the 3,035-pound vehicle, plus a destination charge.

According to Richard Haas, president and CEO of Mahindra Automotive North America, the Roxor is in a class all its own. “It’s a very different vehicle – we think it makes its own subset,” Haas told Wards Auto in March. “It’s much more capable than what’s out there today.”

Clearly, FCA sees the Roxor becoming popular, thus watering down Jeep’s heritage and brand recognition. In its complaint, FCA said the Roxor’s entry into the U.S. amounts to “underselling Jeeps,” noting the Indian automaker’s “substantial foreign manufacturing capacity combined with its demonstrated intention to penetrate the United States market and harm FCA’s goodwill and business.”

Given that Jeep is FCA’s biggest money maker and its greatest hope for world domination, the company’s complaint has legs. But that doesn’t stop us from wanting a Roxor.

What a cutie.

[Images: Mahindra]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

More by Steph Willems

Comments
Join the conversation
2 of 56 comments
  • Eggsalad Eggsalad on Aug 03, 2018

    This is all dependent on what the contract between Willys and Mahindra says. Until we know that, we know nothing about the merits of FCA's case.

  • Tree Trunk Tree Trunk on Aug 06, 2018

    A quick online search shows that it is possible to remove the speed limiter and add the windshield and other things needed to transform the Roxor from an off-road toy to something functioning more like a car. When that is said and done the Roxor can be registered as a street legal vehicle in many states, which makes the lawsuit more understandable. Why spend 30K on a new Wrangler when the retro version can be had for 15K?

  • FreedMike Off topic, but folks, this site is not working well for me from a technical standpoint, and it doesn't matter if I'm using my phone, or my computer (on two different browsers). It locks up and makes it impossible to type anything in after a certain point. Anyone else having these issues?
  • Syke Kinda liked the '57, hated the '58. Then again, I hated the entire '58 GM line except for the Chevrolet. Which I liked better than the '57's. Still remember dad's '58 Impala hardtop, in the silver blue that was used as the main advertising color.
  • Dartdude The bottom line is that in the new America coming the elites don't want you and me to own cars. They are going to make building cars so expensive that the will only be for the very rich and connected. You will eat bugs and ride the bus and live in a 500sq-ft. apartment and like it. HUD wants to quit giving federal for any development for single family homes and don't be surprised that FHA aren't going to give loans for single family homes in the very near future.
  • Ravenuer The rear view of the Eldo coupe makes it look fat!
  • FreedMike This is before Cadillac styling went full scale nutty...and not particularly attractive, in my opinion.
Next