Mitsubishi Motors to triple electric vehicles output to 30,000

The i-MiEV, which went on sale in Japan in July last year, costs 4.59 million yen ($51,000). Mitsubishi has acknowledged the price may be too expensive for most people.

Mitsubishi spokesman Yuki Murata said the company aims to bring down the price to the two million yen level.  Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) announced the signing of a Final Cooperative Agreement regarding development and supply of the new-generation electric vehicle (EV) i-MiEV with PSA Peugeot Citroën (PSA). A total of 100,000 electric vehicles are expected to be supplied in the frame of this Agreement.

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) was honored with the internationally acclaimed Paul Pietsch Award for the development of the new-generation electric vehicle i-MiEV. The prize for automotive technology and design was received by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation’s Member of the Board in Charge of Product Strategy & Development Group Headquarters Gayu Uesugi from auto motor und sport editor-in-chief Bernd Ostmann.

In Japan, the i-MiEV has already been on the market since July 2009 whilst production of the export left-hand-drive version will start in October 2010. With zero CO2 tailpipe emissions and minimal well-to-wheel generation of CO2, MMC’s i-MiEV makes a valuable contribution to climate protection.

The i-MiEV is planned for European launch in the end of 2010, and its charging system will be compatible with European 220/240V household outlets, providing for a zero-to-full charge within an estimated seven hours.