Car blogs

Now that India's biggest SUV maker is joining forces with Reva Electric Car Co., GM will apparently go it alone on its electric vehicles in the world's seventh-largest automobile market.


General Motors is shelving a planned joint-venture with India-based Reva for EV development and will make EVs for India itself, Bloomberg News reported earlier today, citing GM executive Karl Slym.


GM, which changed plans after Reva agreed Wednesday to sell a 55 percent stake to India-based SUV maker Mahindra & Mahindra, may also make its Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in electric vehicle available for India as well, according to Bloomberg.


GM officials didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.


GM apparently will use an EV version of its Chevrolet Spark (pictured) to expand its presence in a country that trails only China, Japan, the U.S., Germany, South Korea and Brazil among global automaking nations, according to the International Organization of Automobile Manufacturers. About 2.6 million vehicles were produced in India last year, up 13 percent from 2008, according to OICA.


GM, which had planned to sell an EV-version of the Spark in India late this year, didn't say how long those plans would be delayed, according to Bloomberg.


Mahindra & Mahindra said Wednesday that it would buy a controlling stake in Reva to obtain access to the smaller automaker's electric-drive technology. Mahindra will acquire a 55 percent stake comprising stock bought from closely held Reva's founders and about $10 million of new shares. It didn't give an overall value for the transaction.

Tags: Chevrolet, Emissions, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Mahindra, Plug-ins and Electric, Reva, Chevy Spark, Chevy Volt, Electric Car, Electric Vehicle, General Motors, Mahindra, Reva

---

General Motors Reportedly to Develop New India Electric Car, Ends Reva Deal was originally published by Green Car Advisor. Read the full story by clicking here.