Tokyo, October 16, 2018 - GAC Mitsubishi Motors is to start production of the all-new Eupheme EV Electric Vehicle SUV in China.
GAC Mitsubishi Motors (GMMC) is a joint venture between the Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) and the Mitsubishi Corporation. The Eupheme EV was designed by GAC and is produced by GMMC in Changsha, Hunan.
The new model supports both Mitsubishi Motors and GAC's strategic growth goals, boosts development of an advanced automotive industry and will help rapid adoption of "new energy vehicle" (NEV)*1 technologies in the world's largest vehicle market.
Twelve key cities will serve as the initial release markets for the Eupheme EV in China, including Beijing, Changsha, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou and Tianjin, with additional locations to be introduced across the country this year.
Eupheme EV has a cruise distance of 410 km (the fuel consumption measurement in China), and combines the powerful torque of electric vehicle with the comfort and interior space of SUV, It will be priced from 135,800 RMB*2 (approximately $20,000) as an advanced and environmentally friendly SUV for Chinese customers.
Commenting on the company's ambitions in China, Mitsubishi Motors Chief Executive Officer Osamu Masuko stated "The launch of Eupheme EV follows the Eupheme Plug-in Hybrid Electric (PHEV) SUV to market and is an important milestone for GMMC. It demonstrates the critical role that EV technology will play in meeting Chinese consumers' needs and contributes to the automotive industry in China. China is one of our most important markets and we look forward to greatly expanding our position in the country during our DRIVE FOR GROWTH plan."
As a strategic partnership, sales and production platform in China, GMMC will play a key role in supporting Mitsubishi Motors three-year DRIVE FOR GROWTH strategic plan. By 2019, Mitsubishi Motors aims to have further strengthened its operations across China by more than doubling the sales units as well as its dealer network, compared with 2016 levels. The company will also focus on expanding its vehicle lineup of four-wheel drive and PHEV SUVs in the country.
*1 : New Energy Vehicles in China are defined as full electric, plug-in hybrid or fuel cell vehicles
*2 : It can be purchased from after receiving the subsidy of NEVs
About GAC Mitsubishi Motors (GMMC)
Based in Changsha, Hunan, GMMC was formed as a joint venture company in 2012 between Guangzhou Automobile Group (50% ownership stake), Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (30% ownership stake) and Mitsubishi Corporation (20% ownership stake). GMMC has 4,100 employees, and serves as a sales and distribution platform for GAC and MMC-branded vehicles in China. The company has an annual production capacity over 270,000 units per year between the Mitsubishi Motors ASX and Outlander SUVs, as well as the GAC Eupheme and Eupheme EV GMMC maintains over 300 sales and service locations across China.
About Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC)
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation is a global automobile company based in Tokyo, Japan, which has a competitive edge in SUVs and pickup trucks, electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The company launched the i-MiEV – the first mass-produced electric vehicle in 2009, which was followed by the OUTLANDER PHEV in 2013 – a plug-in hybrid market leader in Japan and Europe. Mitsubishi Motors has 30,000 employees and a global footprint with production facilities in Japan, Thailand, China, Indonesia, Philippines and Russia. Models, such as the PAJERO SPORT/MONTERO SPORT, TRITON/L200 and OUTLANDER play a major role in achieving its growth. The global sales volume in fiscal year 2017 was 1,101,000 units, and the net sales of Mitsubishi Motors for fiscal year 2017 was 2.19 trillion yen. Mitsubishi Motors is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
