Mitsubishi 2009 Annual Report Download - page 11

Mitsubishi Motors Group Environmental Vision 2020
“Leading the EV* era,
towards a sustainable future”
*EV (electric vehicle): electric cars, plug-in hybrids, and other electric-powered vehicles.
The newly established Mitsubishi Motors Group Environmental Vision 2020 is a medium-term roadmap for
addressing environmental issues and sets specific targets to be achieved by 2020. These targets include cutting
global lineup CO2 emissions during the use of new vehicles by a weighted average of 50% from the 2005 level
and reducing per-vehicle CO2 emissions during production by 20% over the same time frame. The slogan of the
Mitsubishi Motors Group Environmental Vision 2020 is “Leading the EV era, towards a sustainable future.”
We view EVs—the ultimate eco-cars—as central to our business activities over the medium and long terms,
and as the driving force behind the Environmental Vision 2020.
Market Launch of the i-MiEV
“The i-MiEV is the pioneer that will open the
door to the next 100 years of the automobile”
MMC started developing EVs more than 40 years ago in 1966. Following extensive R&D over the years, we
rolled out the new-generation EV i-MiEV in July 2009. Today, with global warming becoming an increasingly
serious concern, we believe that automakers must take concrete actions to move today’s motorized society
away from its reliance on fossil fuels to one that enables a sustainable future for people and the planet.
Although EVs have some room to improve in areas of cost, charging time, and cruising range, they repre-
sent the ultimate in eco-cars, as they address all environmental issues—air pollution, global warming, and over-
reliance on fossil fuels. We believe that the launch of the all-electric i-MiEV embodies the challenges of
developing a pinnacle technology and opening a new era for the auto industry and society as a whole.
Nearly a century has passed since the mass production of automobiles began. Today, we see the i-MiEV as
the pioneer that will open the door to the next 100 years of the automobile. We believe that the i-MiEV will play
a vital role in broadening the understanding of EVs, promoting technological innovation and charging infra-
structure development, and accelerating the widespread use of EVs.
In the i-MiEV’s first fiscal year, we are targeting a sales volume of 1,400 i-MiEV vehicles in Japan and 250
i-MiEV vehicles overseas, mainly in right-hand drive markets. In fiscal year 2010, we will phase in the i-MiEV in
left-hand drive markets, targeting sales of 6,000 i-MiEV vehicles worldwide.
Expanding our EV Lineup
“Our target is for EVs to account for at least
20% of total production volume by 2020.”
Going forward, in addition to the i-MiEV, we will work to expand our lineup of EVs designed primarily for urban
driving. Meanwhile, to meet needs for long-distance driving, we will also press ahead with the development of
plug-in hybrids that leverage the advantages of EVs while extending the driving range.
Furthermore, our target is for electric-powered eco-friendly vehicles, including plug-in hybrids, to account
for at least 20% of total production by 2020, the target year of our Environmental Vision. We will seek to grow
EV operations into a core business of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation.
Recognizing EVs as the pinnacle technology that will play a central role in the next 100 years of the automo-
bile, we look forward to “driving into the next 100 years” with stakeholders and customers, as we help to make
a low-carbon society a reality.
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Annual Report 2009 MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORPORATION