Tata, M&M and Maruti to co-develop hybrids

While companies like Honda and Toyota have already rocketed ahead with their hybrid cars (Honda Insight, Toyota Prius) and GM is working hard to catch up (with the Volt and Ampera), Indian car companies have also woken up to the need of having hybrid vehicles in their lineup.

Maruti, Tata Motors and M&M will now be working together to develop hybrid vehicles. They will work on co-developing lithium-ion battery, controller and electric motor technologies, which they will then use in their individual cars, SUVs and commercial vehicles. The three carmakers are committed to demonstrating their fleet of hybrid vehicles for the Commonwealth Games, which will be held in India in 2010.

This hybrid vehicles project is being headed by I V Rao, a senior official with the R&D department at Maruti Suzuki and also the chairperson of the committee on National Hybrid Propulsion Programme.