Mitsubishi Motors has started the production of its European-spec i-MiEV electric vehicle (EV) along with the manufacturing of PSA Peugeot Citroen’s Peugeot iOn and Citroen C-Zero at its Mizushima plant.
Mitsubishi Motors, which has been producing and selling the Japan-spec i-MiEV since last year, will begin full-fledged export with the production of the European-spec models that has a range of 150km under the European NEDC 2 driving pattern on one charge.
The company has customized the Japanese version of i-MiEV to better suit European requirements, including: a different front and rear bumper design, added safety features such as Active Stability Control (ASC) system, new gear selection and new left-hand-drive dashboard.
Mitsubishi Motors plans to sell 5,000 i-MiEVs, including models built for PSA in fiscal year 2010 in Europe in 14 countries including France, the UK, and Germany, then from fiscal year 2011 sequentially expand the countries it will be sold in.
Mitsubishi Motors president Osamu Masuko said that it has been 100 years since mass production of internal combustion-engine cars began and the company has taken the first step into the next 100 years of the automobile with the i-MiEV.
“Today, we take the second step with production for the European market on the way to global rollout of electric vehicles. This is a big step for the automobile industry and at the same time signifies the beginning of e-mobility for Europe,” Masuko said.