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Mitsubishi shooting for 20,000 iMiEV electrics per year by 2011

 
1,780 views Apr 3, 2009
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mitsubishi prototype imiev sketch 001

One of the roadmap’s specific targets is to have a production volume at least 20% of which is comprised of EVs

One of the roadmap’s specific targets is to have a production volume at least 20% of which is comprised of EVs

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The industry is in pain, but it's still planning for the future. Today that's clear nowhere more so than at Mitsubishi, which has just announced it will be upping its production target of the iMiEV to 20,000 units annually by 2012 up 200% on previous goals of 10,000 per year.

Output targets for 2010 are also up 25%, from 4,000 to 5,000 units. That will ramp up to a target of 10,000 cars by 2010, with the 20,000 annual target to coincide with the car's release for retail sale in 2011.

Already the 2009 output of the iMiEV is spoken for - though not actually sold - with corporations putting in requests for 2,000 of the cars.

The tiny EVs are built to fit Japan's kei-class regulations, which give them the advantage of certain parking, insurance and taxation rules. It also makes for a very compact way to transport four adults around at city speeds. When Motor Authority tested the iMiEV at last year's Los Angeles Auto Show, we found the car to be comfortable, capable and generally much more well-rounded than its size and statistics might suggest.

It is, nevertheless, a very minimalist and utilitarian vehicle suited only to urban environments and lower-speed duty.

Mitsubishi's stock saw a mild rise on the Japanese market as a result of the forward-looking announcement despite the carmaker's overall sales following the market's downward trend.
2009 Mitsubishi Prototype i MiEV concept

HI-RES GALLERY: mitsubishi prototype imiev sketch 001




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