Mitsubishi to Develop Electric Commercial Vehicles; Resume Diesel Pajero Sales

19 June 2008

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. plans to develop electric delivery vans, Managing Director Tetsuro Aikawa said at a shareholders meeting.

Technologies for the i MiEV electric vehicle, to be launched by Mitsubishi Motors in Japan in 2009, are expected to be used for the commercial vehicle development. Earlier this week, Mitsubishi and PSA Peugeot Citroën agreed to start a feasibility study on an extended technical collaboration in the field of electric powertrains with an immediate focus on the development, manufacture and use of a powertrain for small urban electric vehicles. (Earlier post.)

Earlier this month, Japan Post Service Co., a unit of Japan Post Holdings Co., unveiled plans to gradually replace its entire fleet of gasoline vehicles with electric ones.

Aikawa also told shareholders that Mitsubishi Motors will resume selling the Pajero diesel-powered sport-utility vehicle for the first time in four years this autumn, due to expected interest in the fuel efficiency of a diesel platform.

(A hat-tip to John!)