Officially official: Peugeot to offer re-badged Mitsubishi i MiEVs
by Domenick Yoney on Mar 2nd 2009 at 9:21AM 
While the partnership between Mitsubishi and Peugeot to bring electric vehicles to market has been officially official for some time, the deal we told you about that would see the Peugeot lion logo perched proudly on the nose of the Japanese automaker's i MiEV hasn't. Until now. On the eve of the unveiling of its "Prototype iMiEV concept" in Geneva comes word that the two have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would see them collaborating on vehicles based upon the iMiEV. We are guessing that the timing of this announcement and the imminent reveal of the slightly-upsized right-hand-drive prototype of the iMiEV is not coincidental.
It is said that MiMoCo will be doing the manufacturing in Japan while the extra showroom floor space that Peugeot can offer in Europe should help boost sales volumes and keep costs down. While it is unknown what sort of sales targets the companies have for the car, we do know that GS Yuasa and Mitsubishi plan on making enough batteries for 10,000 i MiEVs once sales start with a doubling of that capacity within a year or two. As to what a Peugeot iMiEV will look like, until pictures are taken we can only lean on the magic of photoshop and present you the slightly altered image above. Press release after the break.
[Source: Mitsubishi]
PRESS RELEASE:
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation and PSA Peugeot Citroen: one step further towards electric vehicles for Europe.
Tokyo, March 2, 2009 - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) and PSA Peugeot Citroen announced today that both companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding collaboration on electric vehicles based on a vehicle currently under development by MMC in Japan.
In June 2008, both companies started a feasibility study of the development, manufacture and use of an electric powertrain for small urban vehicles.
The companies have now reached an understanding that will allow PSA to partner with MMC for the development of an electric vehicle for Europe based on MMC's i MiEV*1, to be manufactured by MMC and sold under Peugeot brand, in parallel to Mitsubishi's own European i MiEV.
This new step would be mutually beneficial since the collaboration of MMC and PSA Peugeot Citroen will ease and accelerate the introduction of their electric vehicles in the European market.
The two companies are now in negotiations on a cooperative agreement, targeting market launch at the end of 2010 or the very beginning of 2011.
For PSA Peugeot Citroen this agreement will enable the Group to maintain its leadership in environmentally friendly cars. With an extensive knowledge of electric vehicles, PSA Peugeot Citroen is the largest global manufacturer of electric vehicles to date, with more than 10,000 units sold. PSA Peugeot Citroen will bring to this project its expertise in the field of electric powertrains.
For MMC, this project is consistent with its worldwide electric vehicle strategy. Currently involved in testing and promotional activities in Japan, New Zealand, the United States and across Europe, the i MiEV will be launched in Japan during the summer of 2009. In parallel to the 2010 European launch of the i MiEV, MMC is examining several markets including the U.S. for the rollout of the electric vehicle.
*1 Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle, based on the "i" minicar
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
gorr 1:41PM (3/02/2009)
This car have cost millions and millions of dollar to mitsubishi, project no place, french goverment, japanese goverment, usa goverment and all of this have been paid by workers on their income tax report and not a single one have been sold to a paying consumer and this car is s*** on wheels.
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Yanquetino 7:57PM (3/02/2009)
Okay. The camel's back is now broken.
I am sure I am not alone in concluding that "gorr" above is either some automated sockpuppet program or someone who needs serious help. Would anyone else join me in recommending that AutoblogGreen block those posts? Such convoluted rants are interrupting and discouraging valid comments.
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Sebastian 12:41PM (3/03/2009)
Yanquetino,
thanks for your concern. we'll be watching this thread to see what other readers think of your proposal.
Chris M 5:10PM (3/03/2009)
Yes, Gorr definitely needs help, but unfortunately, people suffering from a reality deficit disorder rarely realize they need help and usually resist attempts to help them. Paranoids often mistake attempts to help as sinister attacks, and see conspiracies where none exist.
I told Gorr that his rants sound irrational to others, and that the only way he can persuade others is to write a clear, orderly and logical argument, but that is beyond him. Asking Gorr to write a rational orderly post is like asking a deaf person to sing opera - it ain't gonna happen.
I've tried to explain to Gorr that Autoblog Green isn't an automart or an auction site and he can't buy cars here, but he keeps trying to order his dream watercar here. I've tried to explain that the Stan Meyers and D. Dingle "water cars" are frauds and it isn't possible to power a car with an onboard electrolysis cell, but he remains obsessed with that dream.
I'm reluctant to recommend "banning" for anyone, but I can't help but wonder if banning would be best for him. Perhaps he'd stop obsessing here and get a life.
Chris 1:14PM (3/03/2009)
10,000 for the first year?
If this car has real world range at a sensible price then 10,000 will see them through the first week!
What are they going to do after the first week (aside from pulling their pants back up)?
Or perhaps they are acknowledging that this car will be very expensive and therefore not very popular. That would be a great shame.
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