Mitsubishi Begins The Production Of Minicab EV In Indonesia

Mitsubishi Motors has announced that production of the Minicab EV (known as the L100 EV in Indonesia) has begun. This follows the carmaker's announcement in February of this year that it would produce the one-box kei car outside of Japan for the first time.

Manufactured by PT Mitsubishi Motors Krama Yudha Indonesia (MMKI), the kei-car class electric commercial vehicle will be introduced in the Indonesian market in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2023, according to Mitsubishi Motors Corporation.

The Minicab EV has the same EV system as the i-MiEV, the first mass-produced EV ever. Because of its battery pack's location beneath the floor, the vehicle's ample cargo space can accommodate EV components without being compromised.

The Minicab EV that will be sold in Indonesia is expected to resemble models that are offered in Japan, though the automaker did not disclose all the specifications.

The small light commercial vehicle (LCV) has a single electric motor with a 41 PS (40 hp or 30 kW) rating and 196 Nm of torque in its native nation. It is powered by a 16-kWh lithium-ion battery with a WLTC range of 133 km.

“In 2017, MMKI began production of the Xpander, which is now not only sold domestically in Indonesia, but also exported to support the development of the Indonesian auto industry.

“With the start of our first production of electric vehicles (EVs) overseas, we hope to meet the growing demand for EVs in the ASEAN region and at the same time contribute to the country's environmental initiatives,” Mitsubishi Motors Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Takao Kato stated.

In the same press release, Mitsubishi also stated that in the fourth quarter of the 2023 fiscal year, it will partially export the Pajero Sport, which is made in Thailand and sold to Australia, from Indonesia as part of its ASEAN strategy.