MMC offers support to the victims of the Japan earthquake, will offer i-MiEVs and Triton pickups [JP]

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation’s Support to the Tohoku Earthquake Victims

Tokyo, March 16, 2011 - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) would like to offer sincere condolences and sympathy to the victims of the Tohoku Earthquake. We pray from the depth of our hearts that the devastated area attains recovery as soon as possible.

The MMC group in Japan has confirmed a donation of 30 million yen to assist the victims and damaged areas. As an additional support, MMC will supply vehicles to accommodate the circumstances and needs of local authorities in the area.

In conjunction with MMC's overseas distributors and business partners, we will try to find out the most efficient and optimum ways to render further assistance to those affected.


Disaster Relief Efforts: Supplying EVs and other vehicles

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) will provide the areas afflicted by the Tohoku Earthquake with electric vehicle i-MiEV as well as 4WD pickup truck Triton, to be used for disaster relief purposes.

Mitsubishi i-MiEV

Many of the afflicted areas are troubled with a serious gasoline shortage issue – therefore, electric vehicles have been called upon for its characteristic of being able to run without any specific facility if there is an electricity supply. Also, circumstance calls for vehicle with high road-performance, large cargo capacity and reliable accessibility on rough roads. With these factors in mind, i-MiEV and Triton were chosen to be sent as support effort.

Mitsubishi Triton (L200 / Strada)

As the first step, 30 i-MiEVs will be shipped out tomorrow, March 18th. Additional vehicles will be sequentially sent out according to the afflicted areas' needs.

Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors announce senior management appointments for new joint venture mini car project [JP]

Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors announce senior management appointments for new joint venture mini car project
YOKOHAMA/TOKYO (Mar. 11, 2011) - Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation today announced two executive management appointments for the joint venture that will manage the product planning and engineering of mini cars for the Japanese domestic market. The establishment of the joint venture was part of the agreement signed in December, 2010 to expand the scope of cooperation between the two companies. Junichi Endo, currently Senior Vice President of Nissan, will be appointed as CEO (Chief Executive Officer), while Shinichi Kurihara, currently Senior Executive Officer of Mitsubishi Motors, will be appointed as COO (Chief Operating Officer).  Further details on the joint venture will be disclosed at a later date. 

Mitsubishi Motors Develops New Interior Surface Material of PET Fiber and Cotton Combination

Mitsubishi Motors Develops New Interior Surface Material
of PET Fiber and Cotton Combination

-Cutting CO2 emissions throughout the lifecycle; commercialization this summer-

Tokyo, March 9, 2011 – Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) has announced the development of a new interior surface material, combining PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) and cotton fibers as a new addition to the "Green Plastic" lineup, MMC's original plant-based material technology. It will first be used for vehicle seats and plans to be commercially produced this summer.

Seat Prototype

Car interior surface materials had generally used petroleum-based materials such as PET fibers, due to its durability and flame retardant nature. This new material has knitted in cotton fiber, commonly used natural materials effective in regards to reduce CO2 and preserve oil resources, in to the PET fiber base. This material has been able to attain the high standards required for automobile parts with its effective original structural design and a flame retardant treatment proper to characteristics of cotton fibers. The material is able to be used not only for vehicle seats but also other areas such as in ceilings and trim surfaces. Due to the fact that cotton is an easily attainable fabric, this new material is expected in expanded usage through different car types from hereon.

MMC appoints new CEO and President for Mitsubishi Motors North America

MMC appoints new CEO and President for Mitsubishi Motors North America

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) today announced that effective April 1, 2011, Yoichi Yokozawa will succeed Shinichi Kurihara as President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA). Yokozawa has served as the Senior Executive Vice President of MMNA since June of 2010.

Prior to his assignment at MMNA, Yokozawa had been working as a Corporate General Manager in the Overseas Business Management Office at MMC since 2006 where, among other responsibilities, he oversaw the interests of the NAFTA market operations within MMC headquarters. Yokozawa brings a strong financial and strategic planning background to his new position as President and CEO of MMNA. He has worked within MMC managing various levels of financial, business, merger and acquisition, alliance and corporate strategy tasks during the past 13 years. Yoichi Yokozawa's career with Mitsubishi Motors began in 1998 with a position within the European headquarters (MME) overseeing the financial planning for the European operation. Yokozawa is a graduate of Tokyo University with a degree in Business Administration.

Over 500 units of Mitsubishi i-MiEV to be provided to Estonian Government

Over 500 units of Mitsubishi i-MiEV to be provided to Estonian Government
- The first case of Provision of EV under Green Investment Scheme -

Tokyo, March 4, 2011 – Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) announced today that the new generation electric vehicle i-MiEV has been adopted as an electric vehicle to be provided to the Estonian Government from Mitsubishi Corporation. This scale of i-MiEV provision, 507 units has been the largest inquiry MMC has ever received since its sales started. It also marks the first case of provision of electric vehicles under the Green Investment Scheme (GIS)*1.

This provision is brought by the agreement Mitsubishi Corporation has concluded with the Estonian Government to purchase 10 million tons of emissions rights. With carrying out this GIS, the Estonian government plans to use these i-MiEVs in public facilities (in the field of social welfare) as part of its aim at realizing the widespread use of electric vehicles throughout the country. The Estonian Government expects to utilize i-MiEV for CO2 reductions in the country, thanks to its zero CO2 emission characteristics while driving. MMC will also provide technical support to the Estonian Government in monitoring CO2 reductions effected by introducing i-MiEV. The 507 units will be shipped to Estonia by end of fiscal 2011.

i-MiEV first went on sale in July 2009 mainly towards fleet customers and for individual customers in April 2010 in Japan, gaining appraisal for its high environmental performances, quietness, comfortable ride and dynamic performance. MMC has sequentially expanded its sales to global scale after its release in Japan to Hong Kong, Australia and Europe -- and will start its sales in Canada and the United States this fall.

*1: Green Investment Scheme (GIS)
A type of international emission trading pursuant to Article 17 of the Kyoto Protocol, whose proceeds are to be used for environmental measures including GHG emission reductions.

MMC unveils its new Concept-Global Small vehicle at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show

MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORPORATION UNVEIL THEIR CONCEPT-GLOBAL SMALL VEHICLE THE “e-compact” AT THE 81st GENEVA MOTOR SHOW


~ Mitsubishi Motors Corporation unveils its new Concept-Global Small vehicle at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show ~

Geneva 1st March 2011 - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) has today unveiled their Concept-Global Small vehicle, the “e-compact” at the 81st Geneva Motor Show. After “Project Global” in the C/D-Segments[1], MMC is now pushing the boundaries of global product planning with the forthcoming introduction of “Global Small” in the B-Segment: next-generation architecture with built-in flexibility to accommodate - by design - customer requirements in ALL world markets in the lower sector of the market(s).

Previewed as “Concept-Global Small” at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, this “e-compact” will be unveiled in production form towards the end of this year, prior to a start of production scheduled for early 2012 at an equally all-new plant MMC is currently building in Thailand, its third factory in this strategic production hub.

Saanich Charges Ahead with First Electric Car in Region [CA]

Saanich Charges Ahead with First Electric Car in Region

Saanich – Today the District of Saanich and Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada Inc. (MMSCAN) are pleased to announce a partnership to pilot the all-electric zero-tailpipe emissions Mitsubishi i-MiEV (Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle). The municipality will test the i-MiEV to evaluate the vehicle’s performance, range of distance, and function within a municipal fleet. The i-MiEV will be available to consumers later this year.

The i-MiEV can go up to 120 kilometres on a single charge, has the top speed and safety ratings of current vehicles and can completely recharge on a standard household 120V outlet in 13 hours. The Municipality has installed a 240V charging station at the Saanich Hall which provides a full charge in only 6 hours.

The Municipality sees the arrival of electric vehicles as the beginning of a significant shift in vehicle use and a key component of the Saanich Climate Action Plan. The Municipality set a 2020 target of 5,000 electric vehicles in the community when the Plan was passed by Council in April 2010 and a 33% reduction target in community greenhouse gas emissions. Saanich cars, trucks and SUV’s emit over 220,000 tonnes of emissions each year which represents 54% of Saanich’s total emissions.