Bangalore, August 22, 2012: Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicles has inaugurated its all-new manufacturing plant in Bangalore, which is the first platinum-rated automobile facility in India. Inaugurating the world–class, energy efficient, green manufacturing unit, Anand Mahindra, chairman and managing director of the Mahindra Group, said: “We firmly believe that the automobile industry is at an inflection point that will re-shape the way we own and use mobility solutions. This change is being driven by rapidly changing customer needs and dramatic advancements in automotive technologies, including the growing influence of electronics and IT in automobile products and solutions.”
Elaborating on the Group’s intent to create a movement that will encourage all stakeholders to collaborate in a shared vision of the future, Mahindra added, “We have tried to capture the critical elements where maximum change will be seen, using a framework of 5 Cs (Clean, Convenience, Connected, Clever and Cost-Effective). The 5Cs, when seen together, define the ‘future of mobility’. It is important to understand that the 5 Cs don’t just apply to cars but rather to the entire automotive value chain and the ecosystem.”
Complimenting the Mahindra Reva team on the green plant, Dr Farooq Abdullah, minister for new and renewable energy, said: "I congratulate the team of Mahindra Reva and the Mahindra Group for pioneering environment-friendly solutions in manufacturing and transportation. We, in our ministry, are committed to encouraging all such endeavours as shall help reduce dependence on fossil fuels.”
Dr Pawan Goenka, president - AFS, Mahindra & Mahindra and chairman of Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicles, said, “EVs are being seen as a serious alternative to fossil fuel-driven cars and Mahindra wants to take a lead in developing the EV segment and the surrounding ecosystem. The new manufacturing plant is, in a way the first tangible proof point of the Future of Mobility – this is the first purpose-built, ground-up EV plant in India, the first manufacturing plant to get IGBC platinum rating, the first plant where cars get their first fill using solar power. In fact, this plant will consume the least amount of energy per car build, with one-third of this energy coming from solar power.”
Mahindra Reva also unveiled new technologies including ‘Quick2Charge’, by which the car can be charged in 15 minutes to run 25km, thereby providing customers with increased convenience. There is also ‘Sun2Car’, a personal charging unit which will provide free and clean energy for the lifetime of the car, making it a very cost-effective solution. Car 2 Home also makes it possible to use energy from the car to power a house.
Photograph (L-R): Anand Mahindra, CMD, Mahindra Group; Pravin Shah, chief executive, automotive division, M&M; Rajan Wadhera, chief executive - technology, Product Development and Sourcing (TPDS), M&M and Chetan Maini, chief technology officer, Mahindra Reva at the plant inauguration.