Mahindra to launch micro-hybrid by year end

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) will launch a micro-hybrid version of its latest multi-purpose vehicle Xylo before the year-end, while it gears up to roll out two electric cars from the Reva stable by the end of 2011. Micro-hybrid is a technology that helps a vehicle switch off the engine automatically while lying idle and re-starts upon pressing the accelerator, without having to switch on the engine again. Asked about the roadmap for Reva Electric Car Co., M&M’s newly acquired electric carmaker, Goenka said the company is eyeing the commercial launch of the Reva NXR and NXG by the fourth quarter of 2011. In May, M&M had acquired a 55.2% stake in Reva by a combination of equity purchase from its promoters and a fund infusion of more than Rs45 crore (US$) in the Bangalore-based company.(July, 9, 2