The Roxor certainly looks like a Jeep CJ.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has challenged Mahindra’s ability sell Roxor in America due to its small off-roader resemblance with the Jeep Wrangler. FCA filed a complaint to the U.S. International Trade Commission in an attempt to stop Mahindra from selling the vehicle. According to Automotive News, the grievance specifically mentioned the Roxor’s “boxy shape with flat-appearing vertical side and rear body ending at approximately the same height as the roof” among other similarities.
The Roxor was introduced by Mahindra in March, but it has not yet been put on sale as the dealer body has been constructed. Automotive News states that Mahindra plans to make all components in India and then ship them to the U.S. as kits to be assembled at its new factory in Auburn Hills.
According to Automotive News, FCA stated that the filing cited the Indian firm’s “substantial foreign production capacity combined with its manifest intention to penetrate America’s market and harm FCA’s goodwill and businesses.”
Although the Roxor looks very much like an old CJ Jeep and has a lot of similarities, the main difference is that it is street legal. The Roxor is competing against vehicles from Yamaha and Polaris in the side-by segment. The 2.5-liter turbodiesel four cylinder produces 62 horsepower (46 Kilowatts) and 144 pound-feet (295 Newton-meters). The power is channeled to the ground by a low-range and five-speed manual transmission. This configuration only allows for a maximum speed of 45 mph (72 km/h). The front and rear axles are solid and have a leaf spring suspension. The Roxor, despite its simple exterior, still weighs in at 3,000 pounds (1.361 kilograms).
Mahindra holds a license for CJ-inspired vehicles, and sells them in India under the Thar. It’s likely that this agreement will not apply outside of India, which could be trouble for Roxor depending on the Trade Commission’s decision.