Chetan Maini likely to leave Mahindra Reva

Chetan Maini, CEO, Mahindra Reva, is likely to resign from his post as the head of the electric car company he founded in 1994. Earlier known as Reva Electric Car Company, the Bangalore-based concern was taken over by the Mahindra Group in 2010. Maini, however, stayed with the company, serving as its CEO and technical head.

Widely accepted as being a pioneer in the field, Maini was first drawn to electric cars when he was just a student. A degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford in the US and a number of electric and solar car races around the world further cemented his passion for electric cars.

In 1994 Maini started working on the Reva, India's first electric car which, after several years of testing and upgrades, was finally launched in 2001. While the car was a limited success here in India, it sold even better in the UK market (where it was sold as the G-Wiz). In 2005 Reva showcased two futuristic models in the form of the NXR and the NXG, designed by DC Design, with the former finally seeing the light of day as the Mahindra e2O. In 2011 Chetan Maini was awarded the Economist's Energy and Environment Award.  

Maini is likely to be replaced by Arvind Mathew, earlier managing director of Ford India, according to sources inside the company.