Electric-powered sedan in two years, says M&M

An electric version of Mahindra & Mahindra's entry level sedan, Verito, will be on the market in two years, Mahindra Reva, India's only electric car manufacturer, announced today.

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), which acquired Reva in 2010 (See: M&M acquires controlling stake in Reva) , is also simultaneously leveraging the technology of the company for electrifying some of its existing products. Electric options for its light trucks and utility vehicles are under development, Chetan Maini, founder and chief technology officer of Mahindra Reva, told newspersons in Mumbai.

Reva after coming into M&M's fold immediately started work on 'electrifying' Mahindra's portfolio of vehicles. M&M had showcased the electric Verito at the Delhi Auto Expo early this year.

Regarding the development of electric options of other M&M vehicles, Mani said, "We have proved that electric versions of utility vehicles Bolero and Scorpio are technologically feasible. We have developed electric options of light trucks Maxximo and Geo."

''Mahindra has a strong research and development team and now we have a full-fledged facility where we have the flexibility to manufacture different kind of cars; and we have a good distribution network. So we have a pipeline of products coming out, probably one new variant every year for the next two years,'' said Maini.

Maini, who founded Reva and currently holds an 18-per cent stake in it, said the company wanted adequate charging stations and favourable markets before launching battery-run light trucks.