Opinion: The Real Reason for Mahindra’s Failure to Launch

[gnorthern]

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Wow, they really did get in over their heads. Great article.

[olds88]

so maybe after all next year well see them

[psumba]

Originally Posted by hsfbfan

You guys are assuming GV is telling the truth about this. What have they done to earn that trust.

As was mentioned earlier m&m has a great reputation.

I've known John Perez for well over 15 years ... and seen him at his best & worst. He is an honorable man.

Many moons ago, I was involved in a negotiation with M&M. We came to an agreement ... which they then chose to ignore as it became convenient for them to do so. Because the amount of money involved was not great, it was impractical to pursue the matter in the courts.

How aware are you of the state of ethics in India? In a culture where "truth" is seen as negotiable, what does "having a great reputation" really mean?

[pee wee]

I have understood that J Perez is an honest man and a plain dealer. Mahindra no doubt was happy to take advantage of him, chuckling to themselves about how much smarter business men they were than him. There are obviously significant differences in the two cultures, and in business dealings they don't mix well. That seems to be at the heart of many problems, and there isn't a single set of rules to say who is right and who is wrong, except if local laws are broken. It kind of reminds me of how we laughed at the British Army during the revolutionary war- the Redcoats were lining up in the open to fight like men, and the colonists were hiding behind trees and taking shots at them. The Brits considered our behavior barbaric, but to the colonists it was just expeditious. Maybe business isn't like war- rules need to be established and observed, but it's no secret that the Indian idea of business observes fewer rules than ours.
That is why, if they ever get this mess of a launch back on track, that Mahindra desperately needs an American distributor, they need someone with the character of Global Vehicles to act as a buffer between the two cultures, to be the face that our businesses and consumers are willing to deal with. Whatever GV gets paid is money well spent by M&M.

[howam00]

Originally Posted by pee wee

I have understood that J Perez is an honest man and a plain dealer. Mahindra no doubt was happy to take advantage of him, chuckling to themselves about how much smarter business men they were than him. There are obviously significant differences in the two cultures, and in business dealings they don't mix well. That seems to be at the heart of many problems, and there isn't a single set of rules to say who is right and who is wrong, except if local laws are broken. It kind of reminds me of how we laughed at the British Army during the revolutionary war- the Redcoats were lining up in the open to fight like men, and the colonists were hiding behind trees and taking shots at them. The Brits considered our behavior barbaric, but to the colonists it was just expeditious. Maybe business isn't like war- rules need to be established and observed, but it's no secret that the Indian idea of business observes fewer rules than ours.
That is why, if they ever get this mess of a launch back on track, that Mahindra desperately needs an American distributor, they need someone with the character of Global Vehicles to act as a buffer between the two cultures, to be the face that our businesses and consumers are willing to deal with. Whatever GV gets paid is money well spent by M&M.

that is probably the most fairly written response I have seen on here in a number of weeks. Right and wrong is merely what is sociall acceptable at the time and while Mahindra may not be breaking the law or even their own business principles they are in violation of what most of us would consider to be ethical (assuming that what we have heard from GV is accurate)