CYPRESS, Calif. -

In an effort to ramp up leasing activity for a specialized model and more, Mitsubishi Motors North America selected Ally Financial Wednesday to be a preferred provider of leasing and financing for the automaker’s electric-powered 2012 Mitsubishi i.

As a preferred financing provider, officials highlighted Ally will begin offering leasing for other vehicles in the Mitsubishi’s lineup alongside Mitsubishi Motors Credit of America.

The OEM stressed Ally currently plays a significant role in dealer and consumer financing within the Mitsubishi network as a financial services provider. Officials noted this new agreement that takes effective immediately expands upon this role providing a broader set of choices to consumers when making their next vehicle purchase at one of the automaker’s approximately 400 Mitsubishi dealerships in North America.

"We welcome the cooperation from Ally’s auto finance team to provide our customers with additional flexibility in leasing and financing our highly efficient, zero-emission 2012 Mitsubishi i, as well as leasing other products in our product lineup," said Yoichi Yokozawa, president and chief executive officer of Mitsubishi Motors North America.

"This will provide small businesses and consumers with even more convenient means to finance their new Mitsubishi Motors electric vehicle, making the Mitsubishi i more attractive to those individuals and companies that want to make a difference by opting for a sustainable and highly cost-effective form of transportation," Yokozawa continued.

Jim Kucharski, Ally’s vice president of alliance sales, added, "As we continue to expand our automotive financing portfolio, we are pleased to work with Mitsubishi in this new preferred provider relationship.

"Ally has the nationwide infrastructure and full services capability to complement other financial services providers and deliver additional choice and flexibility to dealers and their customers," Kucharski went on to say.

Consumers can now lease a Mitsubishi i at certified dealers nationwide for lease payments as low as $249 per month for the base ES model equipped with a convenient high-speed CHAdeMO DC quick-charging port.

Officials pointed out payments for the 2012 i-MiEV with Quick Charge package and are based on an agreed upon value equal to its MSRP of $30,675. Monthly payment assumes $3,498 due at signing, including security deposit. Tax, title, license and dealer fees extra.

The OEM calculated 36 monthly payments total $8,974, and an option to purchase at lease end for an amount to be determined at signing. Ally must approve lease and mileage charge of 20 cents per mile goes into effect above 36,000 miles, and the lessee pays for excess wear.