Spokesmen for both automakers have dismissed as inaccurate or declined to confirm Japanese media reports that Mitsubishi Motors would supply PSA with up to 10,000 plug-in electric cars by 2011.
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Reports said MMC would supply its i MiEV electric car to PSA Peugeot Citroen from as early as 2011, using such OEM deals to boost production and lower per-unit costs.
The firm is also considering selling lithium-ion batteries and motors for electric vehicles, sources told Kyodo News.
The Nikkei said EV volume could reach more than 10,000 a year by 2011.
“There is no such plan,” a Mitsubishi Motors Europe (MME) spokesman insisted. “We have signed a letter of intent to exchange information on EVs and EV technology but that’s about it.”
PSA and Mitsubishi last June announced they were starting a feasibility study on an extended technical collaboration in the field of electric powertrains.
That Nikkei had reported the news a day earlier, saying MMC would supply lithium-ion batteries to PSA and the two automakers might also explore the possibility of forming a joint venture to produce electric vehicles.
The official announcement said the project, which would run over several months, related to the development, manufacture and use of an electric powertrain for small urban vehicles.
“To step up the viability of electric vehicle projects and accelerate market introduction, the companies agreed that cooperation on electric vehicle development and production would be mutually beneficial,” the two automakers said in the June statement.
The i MiEV plug-in vehicle with lithium ion battery goes on sale in Japan this summer and is also being trialled here in Europe. It can travel about 100 miles (160km) on a single charge.
“No conclusion has been reached under this feasibility study,” MME’s spokesman said.
He said MMC’s own production plans left “no room for manoeuvre”.
“We plan to build 2,000 cars this year, then 4,000 and ultimately to reach 10,000. We’re limited with production.
“I don’t see any room for anything like that [10,000 for PSA alone].”
A PSA spokesman also referred to the agreement signed last June with MMC.
“No decision has been made on how they’ll take that project forward or [on] any commercial exchange of vehicles,” he said.
“The PSA position is we’re not confirming the story.
“There’s no agreements ongoing, there’s no signature on any contract for exchange of vehicles [but] that’s not to say it won’t happen.”
In its unsourced report, the Nikkei quoted the same i MiEV ramp-up rate as MME’s spokesman and added the car would cost about JPY2m (US$21,580) in 2011.
Graeme Roberts
