Mitsubishi will sell nothing but hybrids and electric cars by 2035, the automaker announced last week.
The Japanese company released a 3-year plan and a sketch of its longer-term goals. The short-term vision was remarkably light on specifics. The company says, “the next three years of business will see an enhanced and electrified product lineup” globally. But it doesn’t specify what new products that plan might bring.
In the longer term, the company says, it “will move to make 50% of global sales an EV by 2030, and then 100% of the fleet electrified by 2035.”
In the auto industry, the term “electrified” includes pure electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), and hybrid vehicles (HEVs). PHEVs can travel on electric power alone for a certain distance, then use gasoline to go further.
Also see: Electric Cars 101 — What You Need To Know
The company offers a small lineup for sale in the U.S. Dealers today have just the Outlander SUV, a plug-in hybrid Outlander variant, the smaller Outlander Sport and Eclipse Cross, and the tiny Mirage subcompact car.
The company said it expects to reveal 16 new products globally in the next five years but didn’t specify which ones will reach the U.S. A presentation to reporters showed all but three of them under sheets. Covered models included an electric pickup and an electric 2-row SUV.
Mitsubishi has close partnerships with Renault and Nissan, which could give it access to more established EV platforms to accelerate its plans.
