Long before electric cars were fashionable, REVA was building them in Bangalore. Its name honours the mother of founder Chetan Maini.
- Country
-
India - Active
- 1994 to 2016
- Founded by
- Chetan Maini
A Bangalore bet on batteries
Long before electric cars were fashionable, a small company in Bangalore was building them. REVA began in 1994 as a joint venture between the Maini Group of Bangalore and AEV LLC of California.
The man behind it was Chetan Maini. Before returning to India he had led the University of Michigan’s solar car team and worked at Amerigon, a company specialising in EV technology. His idea was a compact city car that ran on electricity alone. Commercial production started in 2001.
In May 2010 Mahindra took a 55.2 per cent stake, and the business became Mahindra Reva. Maini stayed on as chief of technology and strategy. The REVA name lasted six more years. In September 2016 Mahindra retired it and moved its electric cars under a new umbrella brand, Mahindra Electric.
A name with EV hidden inside
The story of the REVA name is more personal than most. According to the Wharton School’s Knowledge@Wharton and to YourStory, it honours Chetan Maini’s mother. Wharton adds that the name was suggested by former US ambassador Frank Wisner, who liked that it contained the letters EV.
The Sanskrit meaning depends on who you ask. Wharton gives “one that moves”, while Autocar India gives “new beginnings” and also reads the name as an acronym for Revolutionary Electric Vehicle Alternative.
As for the badge itself, we found no explanation from REVA or Mahindra of its shape or colours, so we won’t guess at one.
Small cars, big ideas
REVA built tiny cars for crowded cities, and it sold them far beyond India.
Landmark REVAs, year by year
- 2001: REVA. The first car went into commercial production in Bangalore.
- 2008: G-Wiz i. In London the car was sold as the G-Wiz. This updated version had safety equipment worked on by Lotus engineers at Hethel.
- 2009: NXR and NXG. Two new electric cars shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
- 2013: e2o. Launched in March 2013 and built in Bangalore, the first car launched since Mahindra’s takeover.
REVA’s know-how also travelled. The Chevrolet e-Spark, shown at the Delhi auto show in 2010, used a REVA-powered EV platform. For more on how badges come together, see how car logos are designed.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded REVA?
Chetan Maini is credited as the founder. The company began in 1994 as a joint venture between the Maini Group of Bangalore and AEV LLC of California.
What does the name REVA mean?
It honours Chetan Maini’s mother. Sources give different Sanskrit meanings, including “one that moves” and “new beginnings”.
Is REVA the same as the G-Wiz?
Yes. REVA’s small electric car was sold in London under the G-Wiz name.
What happened to REVA?
Mahindra bought a majority stake in 2010 and renamed the company Mahindra Reva. In 2016 it dropped the REVA name in favour of Mahindra Electric.
REVA at a glance
- Founded
- 1994
- Founder
- Chetan Maini
- Country
- India
- Headquarters
- Bangalore, India
- Parent company
- Mahindra & Mahindra
- Known for
- Small electric city cars, sold in London as the G-Wiz
- Status
- Defunct
