New Mahindra bakkie coming to South Africa – What to expect

Mahindra has confirmed that the new Global Pik Up is in the pipeline for South Africa.

TopAuto recently sat down with Mahindra South Africa’s CEO Rajesh Gupta to learn more about the company’s local operations and what it has in store for our market.

The Indian automaker has a factory in the Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone, located on the outskirts of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal.

This facility produces the Pik Up bakkie, which is assembled from semi-knocked-down (SKD) kits imported from India.

The Pik Up has grown to become one of South Africa’s most popular high-riders in recent years, usually placing fourth on each month’s best-sellers list after the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, and Isuzu D-Max.

It regularly sells over 1,000 units per month, and has become a key driver of Mahindra’s growth in our market.

Mahindra itself is now a top 10 best-selling brand in South Africa, outperforming legacy names like BMW, Honda, Mazda, and Mitsubishi.

The CEO explained that Mahindra is in a strong position in South Africa, and that the company has future plans to expand its operation to assemble models from completely-knocked-down kits.

This is a notable step up from SKD operations, as it will require a greater investment and the hiring and training of additional skilled staff.

Gupta also confirmed that the carmaker is looking to bring the new Global Pik Up to South Africa next year, adding a new entry to the fiercely competitive double cab scene.

What we know so far

The new Pik Up was first unveiled in concept form at a media event in Cape Town in August 2023.

It is a considerable step up from the current units in terms of its design, as the new model shares a platform with the Scorpio-N Adventure SUV.

It is expected to compete against premium double cabs like the Ford Ranger, Kia Tasman, or the upcoming next-gen Toyota Hilux.

“The concept represents a well-considered approach to entering newer international markets while strengthening its presence in existing ones with a range of world-class products, beginning with the Global Pik Up,” the company previously said at the concept showcase.

“Based on the tough and versatile new-gen ladder frame platform, the Global Pik Up promises to be one of the market’s most versatile and capable pickups when it goes into production.”

Most of the bakkie’s specifications are still under wraps, though a company representive previously stated that the engine selection will “generally be the same.”

For reference, the top-end Karoo models like the Dawn, Dusk, and Storm all feature a 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel engine with 103kW and 320Nm.

The Scorpio-N is also fitted with a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel mill, but it has a higher output of 129kW and 400Nm.

It remains to be seen if either option is given to the new Pik Up.

It’s also possible we could receive a hybrid or full-electric model down the line, as the company previously hinted that it was working on such a unit.

“I will leave it for the launch,” said a representative. “Maybe you’ll see under and say ‘Ooh there’s a battery…’.”

Other details we do know is that the Pik Up will continue to be sold in chassis cab, single cab, and double cab configurations to cater to a wide range of customers.

That being said, a Mahindra representative told TopAuto that the new Pik Up is meant to complement the older ones, and that the company will continue to produce the latter even once the new version goes on sale.

He explained that the old models will stick around to ensure there are affordable options for small businesses.

We haven’t seen any images of the interior yet, but the concept event hinted that the Pik Up will feature a Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) and “big screens.”

The screens could be something comparable to the XUV 700’s dual 10.25-inch digital driver display and infotainment system, which supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The ADAs features, meanwhile, will include things like adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and blind spot detection.

More information on the new Mahindra Global Pik Up will be announced closer to its launch window in 2027.