Out with Isuzu and in with Mahindra.
In November, the Gerald Jones Dealer Group will begin selling diesel-powered pickups made by Mahindra & Mahindra of India.
The new dealership will go into the former Isuzu location on the Jones lot.
Isuzu stopped selling cars in America at the end of January after a dismal year in which it sold only 7,000 cars.
Andy Jones, the dealer group president, said Tuesday he will spend about $250,000 renovating the Isuzu space for the Mahindra showroom. The Martinez car dealer will be among the first in the nation to sell the Maxx pickup.
Mahindra already sells farm tractors in the U.S., but this will be the first American offering in cars and trucks for the 60-year-old Mumbai-based automaker.
"The U.S. is a very big market for us," said Pawan Goenka, Mahindra's president, who was in Augusta on Tuesday. "We will probably be the first Indian manufacturer or Chinese manufacturer to be in the U.S., and that is exciting."
The Maxx, a diesel truck, gets better fuel economy than gasoline-powered cars, Mr. Jones said.
"The only place that uses hybrids in the world is the U.S. ... but the fuel that is the most readily available everywhere is diesel. The technology is there. It makes less noise. It doesn't have the smell, doesn't have the black smoke," Mr. Jones said.
He said he has been working on the partnership with Mahindra since 2007 through its Atlanta-based importer, Global Vehicles.
Mr. Goenka said his company was approached by Global Vehicles in 2005 to distribute the cars and trucks in America.
"We have our plans ready. If we get to the right kind of volumes, then we will manufacture in the U.S.," he said.
Mr. Jones said he will hire 20 people to staff the dealership.
The Jones Group sells Honda, Volkswagen, Mazda, Audi, Volvo and Subaru brands. Mr. Jones said he has not determined a sales price.
Reach Tim Rausch at (706) 823-3352 or timothy.rausch@augustachronicle.com.

