Indian Autos blog

Since the time REVA began selling EVs, it only has managed to dispatch 3,000-odd units globally. Come 2011, with the help of a new facility in Bangalore capable of producing 30,000 units/annum, and Mahindra’s dealership network, it is looking to sell about 1,300 cars in India alone bringing the grand total to 2,500, reports Business Standard.

The new Bangalore facility will be operational by April 2011 and the first of the new variants to roll out will be the 2-door REVA NXR hatchback showcased at the Frankfurt Motorshow in 2009. Mahindra REVA is expected to get a free run as there are no rivals in the electric car segment here in India. The only company capable of spoiling the party is General Motors, whose electric vehicle prototype is scheduled for only display in April.

On its official website, REVA notes the NXR will be available in 2012 and the NXG in 2013. Does the company intend to sell 1,300 units of the REVAi in India next year?

Spied while undergoing testing on the outskirts of Bangalore by our reader Tarun Kumar Tripathy, this Reva NXR is a Left Hand Drive model. The car was traveling at a very moderate speed (you can’t expect an EV to take you on the inside on a sharp right-hander, can you?) and was on one of its routine test runs. The car is a two-door, four seater, all-electric car just like the current Reva city car.

The Reva NXR appears to be dimensionally bigger than the Reva city car and should hopefully be more spacious on the inside as well. The Reva NXR was first showcased at last years Frankfurt Motor Show along with the Reva NXG as a concept. The car in the spy shots is one of the prototype test mules.

The Reva NXR is expected to be launched only sometime next year along with the Reva NXG in the Indian market, but it could make its debut in International markets before being launched in India.

With this move, REVA could produce electric cars from Italy as well

Fiat’s Sicily plant which once was believed to have attracted attention from Tata Motors, is now being connected to the world’s largest electric vehicle makers REVA.

The REVA Electric Car Company wants to franchise its business. It wishes to setup plants across the globe rather than having one base.

Keith Johnston, Reva Electric car company -

Our strategy is to regionalize the assembly of electric cars, and we are seeking venture partners who can access expertise and funds around the world. We are involved in several early stage discussions and no decision has been taken with regards to locations or partners

Reports indicate REVA could jointly bid for the plant with Simone Cimino, a Sicilian financier.

The Sicily plant produces Fiat Panda and Lancia Musa. Fiat has decided last year to shut down this plant as production costs rocketed towards the moon. Some 2,500 employees are said to be affected by this move.

The Sicilian government is keen to reduce dependence on oil and its agenda is mostly got to do with electric vehicles and setting up a proper infrastructure for them.

REVA wants to license EV technology to global CV manufacturers

After trying numerous experiments with passenger cars and electric equipments, REVA is now trying its hand in electrifying the commercial vehicle business.

Similar to the GM-REVA deal, the company is in talks with global commercial vehicle manufacturers for licensing its technology and tie-ups.

REVA is said to have a fully functioning prototype of an electric bus in its facility. It is trying to transplant versions of its technology into three wheelers, buses and commercial vehicles.

Chetan Kumar Maini, deputy chairman and chief technology officer, Reva -

We are in talks with global commercial vehicle makers, including domestic CV players, for technology licensing tie-ups and expect at least five such partnerships to shape up by 2013

REVA is eying satellite plans through a franchisee model in US, Europe, Australia and South East Asia. Instead of concentrating on production in one location, REVA looks to attack key areas on globe with regional plants which will have an annual capacity of about 5,000 vehicles.

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Reva NXR will be sold in Iceland by Northern Lights Energy

Northern Lights Energy (NLE) and the world’s largest maker of EVs Reva Electric Car Company (RECC), have joined hands to explore the electric vehicle market in Iceland.

According to the signed agreement, NLE holds exclusive distribution rights for the Reva NXR in Iceland. The Reva NXR goes reaches customers in Iceland in the middle of next year.

RECC is also considering the possibility of installing a manufacturing plant for its EVs in Iceland. It will use this facility to supply cars to the various countries in Europe.

Gisli Gislason, Chairman of NLE -

Iceland, with its advanced electric grid technology that uses 100% renewable energy in electricity production is a perfect location for zero-emissions electric vehicles

The tiny Reva is attempting to make a big impact with its eco-friendly nature

Our good friend Reva has been shipped to Dubai to take part in the ‘Green Car Programme’. The car has been gifted to the Dubai Municipality for three days by SS Lootah Company, which is associated to Reva. The idea is to give the municipality officials a peek into electric vehicles which don’t affect the environment as much as conventional fuel vehicles.

The car, parked at the entrance of the main building of the Municipality, is pitching to the officials. It is trying to make a case for itself and help the body spread the message of eco friendly automobiles.

‘The Green Car Programme’ initiative was taken to achieve a Dubai with a much cleaner environment. An EV can be used by any strata of the Dubai population, and that’s the message the Reva is out to convey.

We saw this one coming. Today, the press gathered in the country’s capital to witness a one of kind partnership between two very different auto companies.

It was to convey that GM India and REVA have joined hands to bring out electric vehicles.

The companies will also work with the government to setup the required infrastructure for these vehicles. GM’s platform’s will be handed to REVA who will fit it with their technology. The end product could also be shipped to European countries, which are better prepared to handle electric vehicles.

No word on the vehicles that will enjoy the result of the partnership. The earlier report stated it will be the Spark. We think the new Spark would also be a good idea.

Our sources add within twelve months from this notice, GM India will roll out its first EV.

Let us see.

click through to read the press release

A few months back, on an article regarding the Chevy Spark, we wrote how deeply GM India is obsessed with it, and in the future, it even awaits a diesel engine and smaller 800cc petrol engine. We never imagine this was in the roster – Chevrolet Spark with electric power train sourced from REVA.

Economic Times -

The two companies (REVA and GM India) will enter into a 50:50 joint venture (JV), which is currently awaiting the green signal from GM’s Detroit headquarters. If the JV goes through, it will be GM’s first deal since it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

P.Balendran, GM India’s vice-president of corporate affairs -

We have been pursuing opportunities for commercial application of alternative fuel options, including bio-diesel, jatropha arrangement with CSMCRI (Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute), electric, fuel cell, hydrogen etc, with many parties for quite some time.

Obviously, GM is interested in strapping vehicles with more than just petrol and diesel motors. Thus far, it has not come out with any prototypes or suspicious looking test mules have not been reported. GM will introduce the Volt in India as a fully assembled vehicle in the future, probably to take on the Prius, which is certainly coming to India sooner or later.

With Tata studying the possibility of introducing the Indica Vista EV in certain cities, REVA bringing in the next generation NXG, and Bavina Cars setting up a high capacity plant in Chennai, the EV scene in India is the one to watch out for. If not this Auto Expo, the next one in 2012 should have more contenders displaying their concepts and production EVs.