Mitsubishi Motors Corp. said Wednesday that it may supply its environment-friendly gasoline direct-injection engine to General Motors Corp. of the United States.
Mitsubishi said that it is currently negotiating with General Motors and hopes to reach an agreement before the end of the year.
Mitsubishi regards its GDI engine as the core technology that will lead the company through the 21st century. Reaching an agreement with General Motors will expand the GDI engine market and greatly improve the company's business.
The engine, which first hit the market in 1996, boosts fuel economy and reduces carbon dioxide emissions by about 30 percent compared to conventional gasoline engines.
Targeting worldwide markets, the company has made some improvements to its engine this year. The latest version of the GDI engine will reduce emissions of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen dioxide to less than 80 percent of permitted levels.
The company has already started supplying its GDI engine to Swedish automaker Volvo Car Corp., with which Mitsubishi has a joint venture plant in the Netherlands. Mitsubishi said it is also negotiating with South Korea's Hyundai Motors.