Mitsubishi has started to develop an electric light truck that is scheduled to be launched by April 2013, according to the Nikkei Japanese business daily. Mitsubishi is aiming this electric truck at farmers, contractors as well as others who would drive light trucks for work. The release of this model implies that Mitsubishi will soon be coming out with various electric vehicles that will be launched worldwide by 2016. The global markets are already expecting the arrival of a plug-in hybrid crossover, which is likely to be based on its Outlander crossover, by April 2013.
And next month, Mitsubishi is set to start deliveries of the i minicar, its first electric vehicle, to U.S. buyers. This car has been available in Japan since 2009 as the i-MiEV. These electrified vehicles are included in Mitsubishi's plan to reinvent itself as an EV leader worldwide with the launch of eight electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles by 2016. It has yet to be confirmed if Mitsubishi's electric light truck will be offered in the U.S.
Mitsubishi officials said that it isn’t likely for the U.S. market to receive all of the eight EVs or PHEVs that will be launched by 2016. The Nikkei report further revealed that Mitsubishi Motors is aiming to sell 42,000 electric vehicles worldwide in fiscal 2012 ---- twice the figure predicted for the current fiscal year. Mitsubishi said that the price of this electric truck is lower than its two other electric vehicles currently available. Buyers of this model benefit from government subsidies at less than 1.5 million yen ($19,200). [source: Autonews]
