Mahindra to launch another Verito (electric?) variant in 2014

At yesterday's Verito Vibe launch, Dr Pawan Goenka, Head-Automotive at Mahindra &Mahindra, announced that a new variant of the Verito is lined up for 2014. While Dr Goenka didn't go into details about the new Verito variant, our hunch is that the electric variant of the Verito could make the cut next year. Mahindra has already announced that the Verito Electric will be ready for launch in 2014, and Dr Goenka's latest comments only seem to confirm what we're already aware of. Mahindra's electric car making division, Reva Electric, will be instrumental in developing the Verito Electric. Notably, Reva Electric is also readying up electric variants of the Gio and Maxximo mini pick up trucks. 

The exact specifications of the electric motor that'll power the Verito Electric remains unknown at this point in time. However, an electric motor mated to lithium ion batteries seems likely given the fact that Mahindra-Reva has wholeheartedly jumped on to the lithium ion battery route with the E2O. The Mahindra Verito Electric was first showcased at the 2012 Indian Auto Expo. If put into serial production, the Verito Electric will be the first instance of the Dacia Logan taking the electric car route. Currently, Mahindra sells the Verito (a rebadged and restyled Dacia Logan) in sedan and hatchback versions. 

While the Verito Electric has the potential of becoming a cost effective city car given the limited range that conventional electric cars deliver, the price of the Verito Electric will determine its sale-ability in the cost conscious Indian car market. The Verito Electric's business viability could depend on the Indian government's National Electric Mobility Mission Plan 2020 (NEMMP), an ambitious 20,000 crore+ rupees project that aims to put 1.5 million electric vehicles on Indian roads by 2020. This plan aims to deliver subsidies for development and manufacture of electric vehicles in India. The plan will also deliver direct subsidies to electric vehicles. 

As of today, the NEMMP 2020 is yet to offer direct subsidies to electric vehicles, and the effect of this can be directly seen on the high price of the Reva E2O. So, this direct subsidy will be crucial for the Verito Electric sedan. Mahindra-Reva has big plans for the electric vehicle segment in India. Apart from the Verito Electric, electric variants of the Gio and Maxximo mini pick up trucks are said to be ready for commercial production. Mahindra is waiting for the Indian government to announce the quantum of direct subsidy for electric vehicles. Once that happens, expect the electric commercial vehicles to hit Indian roads.