Reva to be Manufactured in CNY

Bannon Automotive, LLC announced that it has selected Central New York as a manufacturing site for its affordable plug-in electric vehicle. Onondaga County emerged as the top choice from an initial list of more than a dozen locations in the United States due to its prime location, workforce, and commitment to green and clean technology leadership.

In another important development, Reva has granted exclusive rights to Bannon Automotive for U.S. development and production of its electric cars, pending the finalization of its financing commitments. Bannon is working to complete its financing by the end of 2009. The company will invest $26.6 million to open a manufacturing facility in Onondaga County, creating 250 new full-time jobs in three years. Empire State Development (ESD) has offered Bannon a $3 million capital grant to proceed with the project.

Bannon will use technology based on that developed by REVA Electric Car Company to build REVA’s NXR model, which was recently introduced to the public at the Frankfurt Auto Show in Germany. The NXR is a lithium-ion powered electric car, suitable for urban driving, with three doors and four seats. Depending on the model, the hatchback has a top speed of up to 100 mph and can travel up to 120 miles on a single charge. The car can be fully charged in eight hours from a standard outlet or in one-and-a-half hours from a quick-charge station.