OREANDA-NEWS. Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) announced that KLM Import-Export Sole Co., LTD. (KLM), its distributor in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos), has donated two units of the i-MiEV new generation electric vehicle (EV) to the Laos government. On September 16, a delivery ceremony was held in Vientiane, with government officials in attendance. 

Development of hydraulic power generation has been actively pursued in Laos where plenty of water resources are available from large rivers like the Mekong River. As EVs and natural energy go well together, it is hoped that expansion of EVs could lead to further reducing CO2.

MMC has brought in three units of the i-MiEV to Laos so far, conducting studies of its compatibility in the market. MMC donated two of these units to the Laos government to cooperate with the government's EV popularization initiatives.

Among the rapidly-growing Asia and ASEAN markets, Laos is expected to show progressing economic development in the future as well as drastic growth in its automobile market. In December 2013, MMC signed a contract with KLM for sales and services in Laos to rebuild and strengthen its sales and service network in the country. MMC plans to firmly establish its brand presence and further sales expansion in the country with an eye on expanding the current lineup of SUVs and pickup trucks to include EVs and other vehicles in the upcoming future.