Washington, July 15 - Indian vehicle manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd is set to enter the US market with a diesel-powered pickup later this year, the first vehicle produced in India for sale in America.

The name of the pickup has not been released. Global Vehicles USA Inc., of suburban Atlanta, is the truck's independent distributor. Global Vehicles is setting up a network of about 330 US dealers, the auto publication Automotive News reported.

The specific sales date is undetermined. The Environment Protection Authority and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration must issue approvals, which are expected in late summer or early autumn, it said.

Sales volume is expected to be small this year, with only selected markets receiving the pickup. The major rollout is scheduled for next year, with Global aiming for 50,000 pickup sales annually.

An SUV will debut in 18 months at the earliest. Other unnamed models are at least four years away, Automotive News said.

These are the Mahindra vehicles that will be sold in the US for the 2010 through 2012 model years, according to the publication:

Pickup: Mahindra's US model is based on the diesel pickup it sells in India.