GM to Partner with India's Reva to Produce Electric Car

The Indian subsidiary of U.S. automaker General Motors has entered into a partnership with Bangalore-based Reva Electric Car Company to develop and produce electric cars for the Indian market.

According to DNA the President of GM India, Karl Slym, has confirmed that the two companies have been working together for 10 months on developing a small car that will be an electric version of the Chevrolet Spark. Whilst prototypes are ready the first cars will not come off the production line until the end of next year. Speaking to reporters in the Indian capital New Delhi, Mr Slym said of his company's partnership with the world's largest manufacturer of electric cars:

We are pleased to join hands with Reva to bring affordable small car platform-based electric vehicles to the market in line with government objectives to reduce fossil fuel dependence

As reported by the Earth Times the Deputy Chairman of Reva, Chetan Maini, has also spoken about the link-up, saying:

Each of the partners will use their strengths, with the aim of making India a global hub for the development and manufacturing of electric vehicles and related technologies

The electric cars that will be produced as a result of the GM-Reva collaboration are intended to run on batteries that need only an electric socket for charging and could possibly be charged in the home of the car's owner. However the report on the Earth Times notes that GM and Reva will be working with the Indian authorities on developing a network of charging stations. In time the Chevy Spark electric-style, for which Reva will supply the technology, may be sold outside of India and electric versions of other GM models may also follow. When it comes to vehicles that run on alternatives to fossil fuel GM has in the main concentrated on hybrid and fuel cell technology. But India reportedly does not have the infrastructure to support vehicles powered by those methods. The cost of purchasing an electric Spark has not yet been confirmed but it is being spoken of as "affordable". Mr Maini has also given assurances about the car's performance and its seating capacity.