Mitsubishi Might Build Electric Cars For Peugeot

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1,862 views Jan 8, 2009

2008 Mitsubishi iMiev Concept

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A struggling Mitsubishi (who recently pulled out of the Detroit Auto Show along with other automakers) just got a nice shot in the arm from France; PSA Peugeot Citroen is reportedly interested in Mitsubishi's i MiEV electric vehicle, and as such Mitsubishi is said to be doubling its output of i MiEV electric vehicles to provide 10,000 units to Peugeot starting in 2011, according to Bloomberg.

As a result of the news, Mitsubishi saw its stock surge as high as 8.6 percent on the Tokyo Stock Exchange today. Mitsubishi spokesman Yuki Murata did specify that a final decision to supply the vehicles has not yet been reached. Increasing demand for low-emission vehicles is said to be driving the deal forward as well as driving further development of all-electric vehicles, E-REV's like the 2011 Chevy Volt, and gas/electric hybrids.

I'm reminded of the legions of golf carts ferrying citizens around the planned community of Peachtree City, a suburb south of Atlanta; vehicles like the Mitsubishi i MiEV and Chrysler's GEM Peapod might look hilarious and offend car enthusiasts, but they make all the sense in the world for short suburban hops and congested urban crawling alike.

If you want a good laugh at the Japanimation that is electric pod-mobile styling, be sure and traipse through Jalopnik's '08 GEM Peapod Photoshop Contest.--Colin Mathews

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