BENGALURU: Mahindra Reva, part of the Mahindra Group, which has made a name for itself with its E2O battery-powered car, will be expanding its offerings.
The group will soon begin selling electric powered versions of the Maxximo and Verito cars. Top company officials said that the company plans to introduce the electric versions of the car by March-end. “The electric power train for the cars will come from Mahindra Reva,” said Jagan Kurian, Head - sales, marketing, exports, Mahindra Reva.
Mahindra group had acquired the Bengaluru-based electric car company Reva in 2010.
With the Centre coming out with the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan 2020 in April by committing `795 crore towards improving the electric vehicle ecosystem in India, it has become more economical to launch electric cars in the country. According to the company, the funds from the mission would go into R&D, towards creating the enabling infrastructure, improving access to lithium ion batteries and encouraging electric vehicle adoption.
Mahindra Reva, which has sold around 5,500 cars since its inception, has a plant in Bengaluru that has a capacity to make 30,000 units. “We have hence, no capacity constraint,” said Arvind Mathew, CEO, Mahindra Reva.
As India does not have a home-grown lithium ion battery-making capability, it has to import the long lasting batteries from China. China has a virtual monopoly over lithium battery industry.
Meanwhile, Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki and Tata Motors have joined the Indian government’s Faster Adoption and Manufacturing Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME) programme to jointly invest and develop common components and systems for electric vehicles for the country.