Mitsubishi has delivered the first fifty i-MiEV electric cars out of 507 units scheduled to be provided to the Estonian government.
These first fifty i-MiEVs mark the beginning of delivery of the largest single order ever taken to date for the Mitsubishi i-MiEV.
The provision of 507 i-MiEVs to the Estonian government was concluded between Mitsubishi Corporation and the Estonian government this past March as a part of an agreement to purchase 10 million tons of emissions rights. Mitsubishi plans to complete shipment of the entire order to Estonia by the end of the 2011 fiscal year.
The Estonian government plans to use the i-MiEVs in public facilities (in the field of social welfare) as part of its policy to popularize electric cars nationwide, hoping to reduce CO2 emissions in the country. In addition, the Estonian government has already introduced subsidies for EV purchases and plans to set up charging infrastructure.
Mitsubishi will work to popularize electric cars in Estonia by providing technical support to the Estonian government in monitoring CO2 reductions and planning to start sales of the i-MiEV to the public in Estonia this coming November.
Mitsubishi is currently selling the i-MiEV in many countries and regions all over the world, including Japan, Europe, Hong Kong, Australia, and will start sales of the i-MiEV in the United States and Canada within the year.
In addition to Estonia, Mitsubishi is collaborating with other countries like the Principality of Monaco, Iceland, Denmark, Singapore, Thailand, and others in their efforts to popularize electric cars.