Mitsubishi Motors Corporation Wins Paul Pietsch Award 2010 from Auto Motor und Sport

Tokyo, Jan 28, 2010: Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) was honored with the internationally acclaimed Paul Pietsch Award for the development of the new-generation electric vehicle i-MiEV. The prize for automotive technology and design was received by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation's Member of the Board in Charge of Product Strategy & Development Group Headquarters Gayu Uesugi from auto motor und sport editor-in-chief Bernd Ostmann.

In Japan, the i-MiEV has already been on the market since July 2009 whilst production of the export left-hand-drive version will start in October 2010. With zero CO2 tailpipe emissions and minimal well-to-wheel generation of CO2, MMC's i-MiEV makes a valuable contribution to climate protection.

The i-MiEV is planned for European launch in the end of 2010, and its charging system will be compatible with European 220/240V household outlets, providing for a zero-to-full charge within an estimated seven hours.

"We are particularly pleased that the high-caliber international judging panel honors our i-MiEV electric vehicle by presenting it with this internationally-acclaimed technology award this year. With this award, we believe we can carry out our European market launch in the end of 2010 with even further confidence," said Mr. Uesugi.

The winners of the award named after the co-founder of auto motor und sport magazine are selected by a judging panel composed of the editors of the automobile magazine as well as the editors-in-chief of 28 international partner magazines. Since 1989, the Paul Pietsch Award has been recognizing particularly innovative developments in automotive engineering. To qualify for the award, the new technology must already have been introduced into regular production.

About Mitsubishi Motors

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation was established in 1970 and is one of the few automobile companies in the world that produces a full line of automotive products ranging from 660-cc mini cars and passenger cars to commercial vehicles and heavy-duty trucks and buses. The company also operates consumer financing services and provides this to its customer base. For more information, please visit www.mitsubishi-motors.com .