Mahindra inaugurated its new Technical Center in Troy, Michigan today. This facility is the company’s first technical center in USA and will leverage Michigan’s large automotive talent pool to provide design and consulting services for Mahindra’s automotive customers in the region. This new facility will initially employ 25 engineers and has been designed to accommodate double that number in the future.

Present on this occasion were Mr. Rajan Wadhera, Chief Executive —Technology, Product Development and Sourcing, Automotive & Farm Equipment Sectors, Mahindra Group, India who inaugurated the facility along with Mr. Michael Finney, President & CEO, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Ms. Janice Daniels, Mayor, City of Troy and Mr. Prashant Kamat, CEO, Mahindra Engineering, India.

“This new Technology Center will serve as a base for Mahindra to address the engineering demand for our automotive & farm engineering requirements together with our Global Development Center in India. We will now be able to offer 24x7 engineering services to our global customers. The Troy Center is the latest addition to our ‘neural network’ of innovation which also comprises of our other research facilities in India, US, China and Korea,” said Rajan Wadhera, Chief Executive —Technology, Product Development and Sourcing, Automotive & Farm Equipment Sectors, Mahindra Group.

“The inauguration of our new Troy Technical Centre is a proud moment for us as we are now present in one of the world’s leading automotive hubs. This is our first Technical Center in USA and it will enable us to leverage local R&D talent to deliver innovative solutions to our customers in the region. We also plan to scale up the Center in due course and will establish a dedicated recruiting department in the US office to meet this goal. We currently have a workforce of about 100 in North America with over 60% comprising US nationals hired locally. Hence, wherever we are located, our priority is to contribute to the local community and economy,” said Prashant Kamat, CEO Mahindra Engineering.

“Mahindra is a global provider for automotive engineering services, and we are thrilled with the company’s decision to locate its first North American technical center and new jobs in Troy,” said MEDC President and CEO Michael A. Finney. “This investment shows our highly competitive business climate and tremendous workforce capabilities mean real opportunities for leading-edge companies.”

“Our number one goal is to help new and existing businesses locate, grow and expand within the City of Troy,” Troy City Manager, Mike Culpepper said. “We are delighted that Mahindra has chosen Troy as the location for its first Technical Center outside India. This is testimony to the fact that Troy is Michigan’s top location for Automotive Research and Development facilities due to the presence of local talent, our business friendly policies, and proximity to important markets in the northeastern United States.”

The Mahindra Group’s presence in North America

The Mahindra Group has had a long and enduring presence in North America with businesses ranging from IT to tractors and aerospace.

Houston, Texas based Mahindra USA (MUSA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., began selling tractors in the USA in 1994. MUSA has since grown rapidly due to high customer satisfaction levels and strong customer referrals. The company has three distribution points in the USA to help meet the needs of its customers and the growing demand for its products.

Mahindra’s professional-grade tractors range from 22 HP – 83HP and include the revolutionary new Max series tractors. All Mahindra Tractors are built with heavy-duty components that allow them to outperform other tractors in their class and are designed to provide consumers with the ability to push more, pull more and lift more, so they can do more, in less time.

Mahindra USA is no stranger to community involvement. It was the first Indian company to sponsor a car in the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series and MUSA sponsored NASCAR driver, DJ Kennington recently won his fifth consecutive race in the 2012 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series season, with a victory in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Through the years, Mahindra has sponsored a college scholarship for recipients of the national FFA’s Women in Agriculture program. The Women in Ag Scholarship Program recognizes the important role that women play in the future of the agricultural industry.