Peugeot to share Mitsubishi’s EV

A MAJOR piece of the upcoming global electric vehicle (EV) rollout has been revealed in a joint announcement from Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) and PSA Peugeot Citroen, who say they have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on a range of EVs based on Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV city-car.

MMC and PSA said the platform sharing arrangement, which follows a feasibility study that began in June 2008, will result in the manufacture of a Peugeot-badged version of the i-MiEV by MMC in Japan, to be sold in Europe alongside the i-MiEV.

Both companies say they are now in negotiations to target a European market launch in late 2010 or 2011, which would see Peugeot beat its French arch-rival Renault to market with an EV. Both Renault and its alliance partner Nissan have committed to producing their first global EV in 2012.

PSA says it is the largest global manufacturer of electric vehicles to date, with more than 10,000 units sold, while MMC is testing and promoting its i-MiEV in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the US in readiness for launch in Japan in mid-2009 and in Europe and possibly the US in 2010.

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