Israeli army may buy M&M Scorpios: report

05 November 2008

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is test-driving the `Scorpio', the flagship utility vehicle of leading Indian automobile manufacturer Mahindra and Mahindra and is likely to place orders once it was found to be meeting the required standards.

The Scorpio will have a turbo diesel engine developed in Europe and an automatic gearbox manufactured by General Motors and will comply with updated EU standards, the 'Globus' business daily reported.

Scorpio has a manual gearbox but the model to be sold in Israel will have an automatic gearbox, which is still under development.

The Israeli version of the vehicle is expected to cost only $7,000 and the Elul Group, Mahindra's defence division in Israel, will facilitate imports by obtaining an official franchisee from Tel Aviv, the report said.

If Mahindra decides to market the Scorpio in Israel, it will be the cheapest diesel automatic off-road vehicle in the Israeli market.

Bilateral relations between India and Israel have increased significantly in recent years, with both nations experiencing a convergence of interests on a number of issues.