Environmental Vision 2020
Achieving the Mitsubishi Motors Group Environmental Vision 2020
Leading the EV Era, Toward a Sustainable Future
A little over a year has passed since June 2009 when we unveiled the Mitsubishi Motors Group Environmental Vision 2020 and declared internally and publicly that we would be “Leading the EV era, toward a sustainable future.” Production of the i-MiEV new-generation electric vehicle went smoothly, and retail sales to individuals got underway in April 2010. We have now taken our first steps toward realizing our Environmental Vision 2020.
MMC is in the business of developing, producing and selling automobiles. As such, we consume energy and impact the environment in various ways, when driving concept cars under development, when manufacturing vehicles in our factories, when customers drive cars they have purchased from us, and when end-of-life vehicles are discarded. It is inevitable that the business activities of an automaker will impact the environment, so it is unavoidable to a certain extent. However, precisely because this is the case I believe we have a major responsibility to do all we can to minimize our negative effects on the environment.
Accordingly, in our Environmental Vision 2020, we promised to work to protect the environment at every stage of a vehicle’s lifecycle, for a sustainable future for everyone. We set CO2 emissions targets for 2020, for both products and production, in order to give tangible form to this commitment.
In order to realize our goal of reducing CO2 emitted by products by half, we have set a target of making production of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles at least 20% of total production in 2020. The targets are quite challenging and will not be easy to reach, but all our employees are united in their efforts to achieve them.
Future EV Society Built on Competition and Collaboration
I have the sense that interest in electric vehicles and other “next-generation vehicles” has gained even more momentum since we announced our Environmental Vision 2020 last year and launched sales of the i-MiEV new-generation electric vehicle. These “next-generation vehicles” are regarded as an effective means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The goals established in the Japanese government's Next-Generation Vehicle Strategy 2010, announced in April 2010, are predicated on maximum effort by all involved. The goals are for next-generation vehicles to account for 50% of new vehicle sales by 2020, and for electrically driven vehicles in particular, including electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, to account for 15–20%.
Moreover, the strategy also seeks to maintain Japan's technological advantage in electric vehicles and hybrids and in core related technologies like rechargeable batteries. It sets a related target of making Japanese standards for charging systems and other technologies the international standard.
Interest and expectations regarding electric vehicles continue to mount, not only in Japan but all over the world. In addition to conventional purchase subsidies and tax advantages, more and more countries are also starting grant programs for R&D and investment in production. This illustrates that competition to develop technologies in the domain of electric vehicles is not confined solely to automakers. With electric vehicles playing a role in environmental and industrial policy, competition is heating up between countries as well.
At the same time, with the launch of the i-MiEV we received an array of proposals and partnership requests related to the utilization and promotion of electric vehicles, from people and groups in Japan and overseas. Single-family houses offering a solar power system combined with a vehicle charger went on the market, and with the help of industry specialists we were able to come up with solutions for charging systems for residential complexes and multilevel parking garages, which initially posed a formidable challenge for us.
In this way we have received the help of many people and organizations in the public, private and non-profit sectors, all working toward the goal of a low-carbon society through popularization of electric vehicles, a goal we would not be able to accomplish completely on our own. Along with leading the way in promoting and popularizing electric vehicles, we will also put every effort into maintaining the pace of related technological development.
To TopEnvironmental Initiatives by All Mitsubishi Motors Group Companies
Seeking to bring about a low-carbon society through production and sale of new-generation electric vehicles, MMC is implementing environmental initiatives to the maximum extent in all aspects of business, including development, production, procurement, sales and aftersales service.
To this end MMC is working to acquire ISO 14001 certification for environmental management systems for the entire company. Certification had formerly been pursued at the business site level. Our goal is to acquire company-level certification before the end of fiscal 2010. This involves more than simply integrating certifications acquired by each site. All divisions will aggressively conduct activities to reduce their environmental impact, both directly and indirectly, in all aspects of business, including all their day-to-day operations.
On the sales front as well, all of MMC's consolidated sales companies in Japan are making a combined effort to reduce their impact on the environment. All have acquired Eco-Action 21 certification, an environmental management system established by the Ministry of the Environment, while overseas dealers are also doing their part to promote activities for reducing environmental impact.
We are currently compiling targets and specific initiatives for 2015 to create our Mitsubishi Motors Environment Initiative Program 2015. The year marks the midway point on the way to achieving the targets of the Mitsubishi Motors Group Environmental Vision 2020. We will announce the plan once it has been formulated, and the entire Group will work together to meet the goals it sets out.
You can download PDF of our “Social Environmental Report”, that is introducing our social and environmental activities.