Mahindra is set to make a comeback in the UK after an absence of more than 10 years.

Company vice-chairman and managing director Anand Mahindra said: “My aim is for exports to account for 20 per cent of our revenue in two years' time and I am confident we will be successful in Britain because people there want SUVs that are environmentally friendly and not gas guzzlers.

“I think there is going to be an explosion in demand for diesel-powered SUV models and we have the right product. In fact, I'll be surprised if Mahindra is not ranked as one of the top three global off-road brands five years from now.”

Three models from the brand's range will be in UK showrooms in the next six months.

“Several British companies have expressed interest in distributing our brand and one has emerged as an outstanding candidate,” said Mahindra export chief Pawan Goenka.

Goenka declined to confirm that West Midlands-based IM Group was the frontrunner for the contract.

The first model to be available will be the Scorpio, a mid-sized estate that has won a big share of India's fast-growing off-road sector since it was introduced two years ago.

After the five-door turbodiesel car will come a budget-priced pick-up truck and a new SUV model now being developed for production in 2009.

Mahindra is also building the Logan passenger car in a joint venture with Renault