Mitsubishi aims for tax breaks

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. said it will make more of its cars environmentally friendly in a bid to make its domestic models eligible for Japan’s green car tax breaks. While seven of the company’s models, including the Colt passenger car and the Outlander sport utility vehicle (SUV) has passed muster, Mitsubishi said it wants to have twice as many models approved this year and so will focus on getting its top-selling models more fuel efficient by making design and material modifications. Frames will be made lighter, engine performance enhanced and tire pressure tweaked, among other modifications. Redesigned, tax-break-eligible versions of the Galant Fortis sedan, the i minicar and other models will go on sale starting August. The firm’s all-electric i Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle (i MiEV) debuted in July. Mitsubishi is expected to sell 195,000 vehicles in Japan in fiscal 2009, 16% more than it did last year. The tax breaks, coupled with subsidies for individuals to ease the cost of junking their old cars, are projected to account for an increase of 24,000 units. (May 23, 2009)