Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Hiroshi Taguchi's new president and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors Germany GmbH

Mitsubishi Motors Germany GmbH

Hiroshi Taguchi's new president and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors Germany GmbH

Hattersheim, November 30, the 2010th Hiroshi Taguchi, since April 2009 member of the management of Mitsubishi Motors Germany GmbH from 1 December 2010 the new President and CEO, and sole manager of the German importer of Mitsubishi vehicles.
Hiroshi Taguchi's new president and CEO, and sole managing director of Mitsubishi Motors Germany GmbH

Hiroshi Taguchi, is employed by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation since 1984, including several years in the U.S.. Before moving to Germany Hiroshi Taguchi was General Manager in the Europe Department at the headquarters of MMC in Tokyo.


Friday, November 26, 2010

Mitsubishi ASX: Winner of the mid-engine journalists TOPAUTO Award in the category "Off-Road" [DE]

Mitsubishi ASX: Winner of the mid-engine journalists TOPAUTO Award in the category "Off-Road"

Mitsubishi ASX wins mid-engine Journalism Award

* New type of diesel with low compression for low fuel consumption and emissions
* Awards Ceremony on 26 November at the Essen Motor Show

Hattersheim / Essen, 26 November 2010. - The Mitsubishi ASX 1.8 DI-D wins this year's mid-engine TOPAUTO Journalist Prize in the category "Off-Road".

Motoring journalists in Germany, Austria and Switzerland for the sixth time called the best car models launched during model year 2011 to choose to again this year to create the coveted car Quartet. A total of 80 new products were in nine categories to choose from.

As part of the press day of the Essen Motor Show (26.11 -. 12/05/2010) announced the engine information service (mid), the winner in each category and presented numerous winning cars at the stand in Hall 3

The jury rewarded with a new compact model below the Outlander ASX located somewhere, sporty and versatile crossover model, which enforces a new diesel engine manufacturing plant.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Mitsubishi reaches 5,000 i-MiEVs produced [JP]

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation Reaches 5,000 i-MiEVs Produced

Tokyo, November 24, 2010 - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) announced that it reached 5,000 units*1 of its i-MiEV new generation electric vehicle (EV) produced at its Mizushima Plant as of November 23rd.

MMC was first in the world to start production of a full-fledged mass production EV with the i-MiEV in June of 2009. The month after that MMC introduced the i-MiEV to the Japanese market, and has sold about 3,000 units to individuals and businesses nationwide (as of end October 2010). MMC also started left-hand drive European-spec i-MiEV production from October 2010, and is steadily proceeding with global rollout of EVs.

Also, in fiscal year 2011, in order to further expand its production scale via starting North American-spec i-MiEV production, MMC plans to transfer production of the i-MiEV from the current commercial vehicle assembly line to the minicar assembly line for cars such as eK Wagon and i.

*1:Does not include EV production for PSA Peugeot Citroën

Friday, November 19, 2010

Mitsubishi Signs Cooperation Agreement to Promote Electric Vehicles with the Singapore Government [JP][SG]

Tokyo, November 19, 2010 - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) and its distributor in Singapore Cycle and Carriage Automotive PTE Limited (CCA) today announced the signing of a Cooperation Agreement to collaborate on activities to test-bed electric vehicles (EV) with the Singapore government.
 
A multi government agency EV task force comprising the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), Singapore’s Energy Market Authority (EMA) and Land Transport Authority (LTA), will set up an EV charging infrastructure network and evaluate the costs and benefits of EVs for future adoption. As part of the initiative, MMC, via CCA, will supply 25 i-MiEVs from 2011 and cooperate in the taskforce's test bedding efforts.
Left: Mr. Leo Yip, Chairman, Singapore Economic Development Board
Right: Mr. Osamu Masuko, President of Mitsubishi Motors

Thursday, November 18, 2010

MMC Completes Renewal of Their Official Website

"Mitsubishi Motors Global Website"

Tokyo, November 18, 2010 - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) has completed its renewal of theirinternational website, "Mitsubishi Motors Global Website" (www.mitsubishi-motors.com) which summarizes their corporate information, following the renewal of their Japanese site, that took place back in April.

An outline of the Global Website renewal is as follows:
  • Easy-to-understand categorizing and fuller contents
  • Compile the corporate information which was previously given in the Japanese local website "Mitsubishi Motors Japan Official Website" (www.mitsubishi-motors.co.jp) into the global website to improve accessibility.
  • Re-arranged the global website to have the same context and structure as the Japanese local website.
  • Establish a category named "Mitsubishi Motors Spirit" and enrich its content such as pages specifically about car designs and more.
  • Establish a category named "Discoveries" that incorporates 360°viewer and wallpaper makers, which help visitors to understand Mitsubishi Motors through entertaining experiences.
  • Revamp the navigation interface to improve accessibility.
Site URL 

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Mitsubishi i-MiEV being used to promote UK Mayor's EV Charging Network Initiative [UK]

MITSUBISHI i-MiEV PART OF MAYOR’S DRIVE TO PROMOTE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING NETWORK - SOURCE LONDON

~ The Mitsubishi i-MiEV is being used to help promote the Mayor Boris Johnson’s electric vehicle charging network, Source London, which is to go live in Spring 2011. Transport for London (TfL) welcomed four new Mitsubishi i-MiEVs into its fleet in June, part funded by the Government’s Low Carbon Procurement Programme, as part of the Mayor’s plans to make London the electric vehicle capital of Europe ~

Tuesday 16 November 2010 - The Mitsubishi i-MiEV is being used to help promote the Mayor Boris Johnson’s electric vehicle charging network, Source London, which is to go live in Spring 2011. Transport for London (TfL) welcomed four new Mitsubishi i-MiEVs into its fleet in June, part funded by the Government’s Low Carbon Procurement Programme, as part of the Mayor’s plans to make London the electric vehicle capital of Europe.

Managing Director, Lance Bradley commented: “We are delighted that the i-MiEV is able to assist in promoting the new plans for a standardised electric vehicle charging infrastructure in London. The ‘one stop shop’ solution to charging is vital to enable the roll out of electric vehicles.”

Mitsubishi debuts the 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV at the 2010 LA Auto Show [US]

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation's (MMC) North American subsidiary, Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA) kicked the off the international auto show season with a bang today as the company unveiled its all-new, ultra-eco-friendly and affordable i-MiEV, featured the stylish new 2011 Outlander Sport crossover and announced a new partnership with Fortune 500 companies Best Buy and Eaton Corporation that will help make electric vehicle ownership easier and more attainable to the eco-conscious consumer.
[Open full article to see Picture Gallery]
The production version of the groundbreaking 100% electric-powered i-MiEV debuted at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show is sure to be a game-changer in the North American automotive landscape.

The North American i-MiEV, when compared to its Japanese- and European-spec compatriots, features a slightly larger body to provide even more interior comfort for four adults, along with redesigned front and rear bumpers for enhanced protection in the event of a collision. Active Stability Control (ASC), a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and airbags that control deployment force are standard features on the North American i-MiEV.


Best Buy and Eaton collaboration to install 220V home chargers for Mitsubishi i-MiEV [US]

Best Buy/Eaton Corporation Collaboration


A new EV charging station logistics collaboration with consumer electronics retailer Best Buy and leading power management company Eaton Corporation was announced at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show.


This cooperative effort will see Best Buy, through the company's Geek Squad division - a nationwide 24-hour task force of more than 20,000 highly skilled technicians - retail, perform site analysis and is working to manage installation of advanced 220V (15A) Level 2 Charging Station equipment that will be manufactured by Eaton Corporation for an i-MiEV owner's home that will cut the battery charging time of their all-electric vehicle in half over a standard 110V (15A) electrical outlet.


Eaton Corporation, with approximately 70,000 employees doing business in more than 150 countries, is an ideal hardware partner as the company has more than 20 years experience in designing and manufacturing hybrid and electrical power systems in commercial vehicles.


Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Bic Camera and Mitsubishi Motors Sign Agreement for Popularization of i-MiEV [JP]

Collaboration of Certified "Eco-First Companies!"
Bic Camera and Mitsubishi Motors
Sign Agreement for Popularization of i-MiEV

Tokyo, November 9, 2010 - Bic Camera Inc. (Bic Camera) and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) today signed an agreement for the promotion of popularization of electric vehicles (EV) making it the first "Basic Agreement on EV Popularization" signed between an electronics company and automobile company.

Both Bic Camera and MMC are certified "Eco-first Companies" from Japan's Ministry of Environment, and they will now work together to promote electric vehicles (EV), which will play an important role in making low-carbon society a reality.

According to the Agreement, both companies will collaborate to popularize EVs by displaying i-MiEV in Bic Camera's major retail stores, and holding test drive events. As its first step, Bic Camera's Yurakucho store in Tokyo will be displaying i-MiEV at its store front as of today.

Participating Stores: Ikebukuro Flagship Store, Yurakucho Store, Shinjuku East Exit Store, Razona Kawaguchi Store, consecutively.
Activities Summary:
# Introducing i-MiEV (product introduction)
# Holding events such as i-MiEV test drives
# Forwarding customers to MMC retailers through Bic Camera

Friday, November 5, 2010

MMC signs MoU for New Joint Venture with Guangzhou Automobile Group [CN][JP]

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation to Build a Collaborative Partnership in the Chinese Automobile Business with Guangzhou Automobile Group by Signing Memorandum of Understanding Towards New Joint Venture

Tokyo, November 5, 2010 – Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) and Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. (GAC Group), each holding a 14.59% and 29.0% stake in GAC Changfeng Motor Co., Ltd. (GAC Changfeng) respectively, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to make GAC Changfeng into a new limited partnership corporation (new joint venture) owned 50% each by MMC and GAC Group.

Based on the MOU, both MMC and GAC Group will proceed to deliberate on models to be introduced, action plans, and production capacity plans, aiming to make the new joint venture company a base for collaborative business in China.

Moving forward, in order to make GAC Changfeng into the new joint venture, GAC Group plans to delist GAC Changfeng from the Shanghai Stock Exchange, and will begin delisting procedures.

The new joint venture is slated to begin operations after a share transfer agreement, joint venture agreement, and related agreements are signed, and permission and authorization is granted by relevant authorities.

GAC Group is one of the main players in the Chinese automobile industry, and is the largest car company in the Huanan region. It is well known within the industry for its high profitability. MMC, a Japanese car maker, has a long history of operating in China and it aims to further strengthen its Chinese business through the building of the collaborative relationship with GAC Group.