General Motors could begin making an electric mini car at it’s Talegaon plant!

General Motors India’s Chevrolet Spark Electric, that GM India developed alog with Reva Electric and that even received wide acclaim during the 2010 Indian Auto Expo never really saw the light of the day as rival automaker Mahindra &Mahindra gobbled up Reva Electric. General Motors, it seems isn’t giving up on it’s electric vehicle plan and this time, is planning to target the American and othe global markets instead of India with a brand new Electric Mini Car.

This electric mini car could be produced at GM India’s Talegaon manufacturing plant off Pune and will be unveiled next month although plans for the Indian manufacture of the electric Mini car isn’t concrete yet.

This car has been developed in the United States and could be sold in India if the market shows inclination to the car after it is unveiled next month. Also, GM India’s research department based at Bangalore is also credited to have played a major part in the development of the Electric Mini Car.

That said, even as GM India says that it will launch the electric mini ar in India only if it sees enough demand, this once again seems to be leading to the classic chicken and the egg scenario. GM India will not launch an electric mini car in India if there aren’t buyers even as buyers will consider buying an electric mini car only if the price and practicality fits their equation.

Considering the fact that lithium ion battery powered electric cars could be quite expensive compared to their internal combustion engine brethren, it looks improbable that GM India would be launching the electric mini car in India anytime too soon.

Chevrolet Spark Electric

Meanwhile, here is what Mr Karl Slym, the President and MD of GM India had to say about the Electric Mini Car and it’s potential to be launched in India.

We will be showcasing an electric mini-car in June. This car has been developed in the US and is meant for a global audience. GM India played a big role in developing the technology for the car at its R&D centre at Bangalore. It will depend on feedback from our customers here when we will unveil it. If we decide to produce and launch it in India, we can use the Talegaon facility for that purpose. The REVA project is completely closed. This mini car is different from what we were developing with REVA. Here we are using a lithium ion battery to run the motor.

Via WheelsUnplugged

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