The recall renovation work of Outlander PHEV will be completed on August 9th

　On July 8, Mitsubishi Motor Industry held a press conference on recall renovation work for the plug -in hybrid car "Outlander PHEV" at the Nagoya Seisakusho Okazaki Plant (Hashimachi -cho, Okazaki -shi, Aichi), and recall renovation work.A part of the public was released for the press.

　Mitsubishi Motors announced on March 27 that the Outlander PHEV driven lithium -ion battery was dissolved and short -circuited.The cause was investigated and pressed reporters from time to time.Regarding the recall, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism was notified on June 4, and the total sales of 4313 units were targeted.

　The cause of the recall was a screening process, which is a part of the battery cell manufacturing process (a process implemented to improve foreign matter detection in the battery cell), and occurs when the worker accidentally drops the battery cell.

　Although it took a long time to notify the recall, the recall renovation work would return the Outlander PHEV to the Okazaki Plant, which is a production plant, and replace the lithium -ion battery module.Outlander PHEV -driven batteries consist of 8 cells per module, with 10 units (8 × 10 = 80 cells).These 10 units are placed in the battery pack and are attached to the lower part of the vehicle.

　At this press conference, it was announced that 1390 out of 4313 units were completed, as of July 5, and that they were renovating about 100 to 120 units a day.It is said that the whole number will be over by the summer vacation period of Mitsubishi Motors (August 10-18).After that, the production line was changed during the summer vacation period.In addition to resuming new production of Outlander PHEV, 2,000 units per month will be raised to 4,000 units per month.

　In this article, the greeting of Mitsubishi Motor Industry President and CEO, which was held at the beginning of the press conference, will be published in full text.We will report on the recall renovation work and its contents at a later date.

　We are worried about inconvenience to the customers who have purchased the bugs generated by i-mieV and Outlander PHEV drive batteries.I sent me a letter from me to ask for this apology and the cooperation of recall work.

　In this recall, all of the driving batteries of the target vehicles that are on the market will be replaced.

　Normally, recall work is carried out by a sales company, but this recall work is fulfilled in safety and quality by returning the customer's vehicle to the production factory and intensively implemented it.

　In addition, the removed batteries are not reused, but they are ensured to disassemble and recycle.It is an unprecedented response to carry out recall work at a production factory, but I think that this will ensure that the battery replacement work is securely completed, returning the car to customers, and riding with confidence.

　1390 units have already ended with battery replacement work on the Outlander PHEV held at the Okazaki Plant.The battery replacement work is progressing as planned, and it will be completed by summer vacation.And we believe that new car production can be resumed after summer vacation.

　Due to the fact that this problem has occurred in the domestic market, there are about 1,000 new orders to date.There are some cancellations, but orders are increasing.In addition, we recognize that the magnitude of expectations for this car has not changed, such as receiving over 10,000 orders in the Netherlands, which is planned to be introduced overseas.

　In order to meet that expectation, the production capacity will be increased to 4,000 units, which will be twice as long as the production ability after summer vacation, and will first prioritize the cars of customers who have already ordered.

　In addition, we are preparing to use the year -end and New Year holidays to make the Okazaki factory line new and produce cars efficiently.

　With this new generation, the production capacity will be raised from the current 210,000 units to 230,000 units.This is to prepare for raising the production capacity of PHEV vehicles in the future.

　The new generation of this line will reduce the built -in cost by about 30 %.At the same time, we will further evolve flexible producers so that they can change the number and respond to new vehicles early and efficiently.

　In addition, it is called AGV, an unmanned component transport plate that is introduced when a new generation of Thailand (factory) (factory) is installed, but this is to be equipped with a battery after used in EV.In the future, if the sales volume of EVs and PHEV will increase, the challenge of the battery after using it in the car will be the challenge.

　This time, we will contribute to the reduction of environmental impact by working on the reuse of the battery installed in PHEV.

　It is unprecedented that basic work will be carried out at the factory in a lump, but to the press.This is because we thought it was important to know well so that customers who use Outlander PHEV and customers who want to ride in the future to use with confidence.

　The EVs we have mass -produced in the world in 2009 have not yet overcome prices, infrastructure, and cruising ranges, and the market is not as ripe as originally expected.However, considering that maintaining the global environment is an increasingly important issue for mankind, we believe that having environmental -friendly technologies such as electric vehicles is essential for car manufacturers.

　I think it should have a similar perception that the world's automakers are considering entering this field.We have developed a PHEV that solved the problem of cruising range, taking advantage of the EV experience.We would like to develop this technology and become a leading company for environmental technology.