Mitsubishi Motors interested in F1 race for electric vehicles

Mitsubishi Motors Corp President Osamu Masuko said Wednesday that the automaker is ‘‘very interested’’ in participating in a championship race for electric vehicles, which is being considered by the governing body of Formula One. ‘‘We are very interested. Our employees are saying that we should definitely do it,’’ Masuko told Japanese media.

‘‘The development costs for electric vehicles seem much lower than for gasoline cars and it would also contribute to the technological development of cars that are already on the market,’’ he added.

Mitsubishi Motors has shrunk its motor sports operations due to deteriorating business conditions. It withdrew from the Dakar Rally in 2009, the world’s biggest and toughest desert rally, which it had dominated for years.

‘‘I’m said to be unenthusiastic about motor sports but with electric vehicles, I want to promote them,’’ Masuko said.

The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile is reportedly expected to hold an electric-vehicle version of Formula One races in an effort to stimulate consumer interest in electric vehicles.