Mitsubishi to Launch New MINICAB-MiEV Commercial Electric Vehicle in Japan

Mitsubishi Motors to Launch New MINICAB-MiEV Commercial Electric Vehicle in Japan
- Prices start from ¥1,730,000 after application of eco-car subsidy -

MINICAB-MiEV CD (10.5kWh)

Tokyo, November 24, 2011 - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) announced that it will launch the new MINICAB-MiEV*1 minicar-class commercial electric vehicle (EV)-the second product in its next-generation EV lineup-on December 8, 2011 at dealerships throughout Japan. Depending on specification the new model will carry a pre-incentive manufacturer's recommended retail price (MSRP) of between \2,400,000 and \2,971,000, consumption tax included.

Derived from the MINICAB Van minicar-class commercial vehicle, the MINICAB-MiEV has been developed maximizing the technologies and knowhow gained from the development of the i-MiEV in delivering the superior environmental performance inherent to an EV, together with the high levels of operating economy, payload capacity, drivability and reliability demanded of a commercial vehicle.

The MINICAB-MiEV will come with a choice of two sizes of drive battery to allow the customer to choose the cruising range best suited to his or her needs. The CD 10.5 kWh battery version provides a cruising range of 100 km (at JC08 mode) on a single charge, while the CD 16.0 kWh version takes this up to 150 km. MMC has set prices at an accessible level: with the application of the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's eco-car subsidy, the final cost to the consumer for the CD 10.6 kWh and CD 16.0 kWh battery versions will be reduced to \1,730,000 and \2,020,000 respectively. As with the i-MiEV, the MINICAB-MiEV will be sold on a maintenance lease, credit or cash basis.

When MMC started sales of the i-MiEV new-generation EV in the Japanese market in July 2009 it was the first auto manufacturer to offer a truly "ultimate eco-car" that fully addresses issues facing our society today including environmental pollution, global warming and exhaustion of petroleum-based energy supplies. Since then MMC has sold some 5,000 units in Japan and has shipped a total of about 17,000 units (as of October 31, 2011), including units supplied to PSA Peugeot Citroën. As a leading manufacturer of EVs, MMC is confident that as it expands its lineup of EV models it will serve as pioneers on the path toward quickly making possible a low-carbon society.

Mitsubishi Motors In Talks with Suzuki towards OEM Supply of a Minicar-class Light Commercial Electric Vehicle

Mitsubishi Motors In Talks with Suzuki towards OEM Supply of a Minicar-class Light Commercial Electric Vehicle

Tokyo, November 22, 2011 - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) announced it is in talks with Suzuki Motor Corporation (Suzuki) towards OEM supply of a minicar-class light commercial electric vehicle (based on the MINICAB-MiEV).

MMC and Suzuki are currently working on details; however plans are for initial supply to Suzuki to begin in February 2012, building up to full-scale supply in the 2012 fiscal year.

The talks towards an agreement are intended to increase economies of scale for MMC which will in turn contribute to lower production costs and increased productivity.

Mitsubishi Motors starts taking orders for Minicab-MiEV commercial mini EV [JP]

Mitsubishi Motors starts taking orders for Minicab-MiEV commercial mini EV

Tokyo– Mitsubishi Motors Corporation today began taking orders at MMC’s dealerships throughout Japan for the Minicab-MiEV commercial mini EV that is planned to go on sale toward the end of the year.

Derived from the Minicab Van commercial mini vehicle, Minicab-MiEV is being developed to make maximum use of the technologies and knowhow gained from the development of i-MiEV in delivering the practical utility and driving performance demanded of a commercial vehicle. Reliability, durability and cost performance are also priority areas. The vehicle started a fleet testing program with Yamato Transport Co., Ltd. in October 2010 designed to verify its practical utility.

Minicab-MiEV is planned to be offered with a choice of two battery sizes*1 to meet different customer needs.

With government incentives, trial calculations indicate that Minicab-MiEV will come with a customer’s net price from around 1,700,000 yen and from around 2,050,000 yen for the 10.5 kWh and the 16.0 kWh battery versions respectively. The calculations are premised on Japanese government’s eco-car incentive program continuing in the 2011 fiscal year and unchanged in detail from fiscal 2010. As with the i-MiEV, Minicab-MiEV will be sold on both a maintenance lease*2 and a cash basis.


*1: 10.5 kWh (giving a range of around 100 kilometres/charge under JC08 mode conditions) and 16.0 kWh (range of around 150 kilometres).


*2: A lease in which the monthly payments include some of the taxes, insurance and maintenance costs.