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Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi Plug-In Hybrid May Arrive In 2014
By John O'Dell November 10, 2011With its all-electric "i" city car launch finally under way, Mitsubishi Motors is turning its sights on a much bigger slice of the electric-drive market with a plug-in hybrid SUV. The automaker – which has shown its PX-MiEV (Mitsubishi innovative EV) concept at several previous global auto shows stretching back to 2009 – reportedly has decided to launch a production version for the 2014 model year. It will show a second-generation concept at the upcoming Tokyo Auto Show. The PX-MiEV II (above and below) is a four-wheel drive, mid-size Mitsubishi Outlander crossover SUV fitted with the company’s electric drivetrain more
Mitsubishi Starts Production Of U.S.-Bound EV
By Danny King November 2, 2011Mitsubishi has started production of its i electric vehicle that is destined for North America, as the Japanese automaker prepares to start selling the small car in Hawaii, California, Washington and Oregon by the end of November. The automaker also said the North American version of what's sold as the Mitsubishi i-MiEV in Japan and Europe will be torquier than overseas versions; a tire-pressure monitoring system and front and rear bumpers also will be added in order to conform to North American safety requirements. more
Mitsubishi To Market 2012 i EV As Commuter Car
By Scott Doggett October 4, 2011Mitsubishi Motors North America will not attempt to sell the 2012 i to one-car households when the fully electric four-door hatchback goes on sale in California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington in November and the rest of the United States by the end of next year. Instead, Japan's fourth-largest automaker will market the subcompact here as a great commuter car that's super user friendly, permits 24/7 access to carpool lanes and is priced more than $6,000 less than its direct competition – the 2012 Nissan Leaf electric vehicle. Despite the substantial price difference – the 2012 i will start at more
Mitsubishi Moves From Red To Black
By Michelle Krebs August 1, 2011Despite the devastating March 11 earthquake in Japan, Mitsubishi returned to profitability in the quarter that ended June 30, thanks to stronger sales in North America, Europe and Asia. Mitsubishi reported quarterly net income of 4.3 billion yen ($55.5 million), compared with an 11.8-billion yen loss a year ago. Quarterly sales climbed nearly 7 percent to 431.9 billion ($5.5 billion) from the previous year. more
Mitsubishi Will Build Outlander Sport in U.S.
By Michelle Krebs February 4, 2011Japanese automaker Mitsubishi announced today that it will produce its newly introduced Outlander Sport crossover at its plant in Bloomington-Normal, Ill., beginning in mid-2012. The vehicle, now made in Japan, will be sold in the States as well exported. Mitsubishi Motors North America President Shinichi Kurihara said Outlander Sport production in Illinois reinforces the automaker's commitment to the U.S. market. more
December Provides Industry-Stirring Finish to 2010
By Michelle Krebs January 5, 2011By Dale Buss, Michelle Krebs, and Bill Visnic Last month showed up for automakers like a luxury sedan wrapped in a huge red bow in one of the many holiday-sales promotions that have dominated TV advertising for weeks. In fact, propelled by seasonal promotions and by the momentum of an increasingly sturdy industry recovery, U.S. automakers sold about 2.2 million vehicles in December, for a 12.48 million Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate of sales, the highest rate for any month of the year. In fact, except for the Cash for Clunker-juiced August 2009, it was the highest monthly SAAR since more
Industry Sees 2010 as Prelude to Even Better 2011
By Michelle Krebs January 4, 2011By Dale Buss, Michelle Krebs and Bill Visnic Don't look now, but U.S. automakers may be counting on a stronger-than-expected finish to 2010 to launch a stronger-than-hoped-for beginning to the new year. Industry-wide U.S. sales reached about 11.5 million units, automakers reported on Tuesday, up 11 percent from 2009 sales of about 10.4 million units. That final tally was about what auto executives were predicting throughout 2010. But their confidence grew during a particularly robust fourth quarter, when the Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate of sales (SAAR) actually exceeded 12 million units in each month. This means that the American more
Green: Tesla's Musk Donates Solar Plant; Marines Buy Electric Trucks; Nissan, Mitsu Join in Venture
By Michelle Krebs December 14, 2010Edmunds.com's Green Car Advisor reports today that Tesla's Elon Musk is donating a solar generating station to the Hurricane Response Center in Alabama, the U.S. Marine Corps is purchasing Smith Newton electric trucks and Nissan and Mitsubishi have joined in an electric charger sharing venture. more
November Sales Uptick Feeds Industry Expectations
By AutoObserver Staff December 1, 2010Holiday spirits are bright across most of the U.S. auto industry this week after carmakers posted November sales about 18 percent higher than a year earlier, and at a strengthening seasonally adjusted annual rate sales pace of about 12.2 million units for the second consecutive month. more