The B2B platform for full-electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles: Industry News

Mitsubishi will mass market the Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle (I-Miev) in early 2010. The car manufacturer works on getting prices down to make it affordable for everyone.

The Japanese car maker Mitsubishi has announced that he tries to bring down costs for his I-Miev in order to make electric vehicles (EVs) affordable to private customers even if purchase incentives for EVs by the Japanese governments might eventually drop in the course of 2010.

So far, prices for the I-Miev which is available as leasing car in Japan since June 2009 and will be mass marketed early 2010 in Japan and at the end of 2010 in Europe, ranked around 4.6 m Yen (~35,100 Euro) with a subsidy by the Japanese government of around 1.4 m Yen (~10,700 Euro).

In 2009, Mitsubishi has sold 1400 units of the I-Miev to local communities and companies. For 2010, the car manufacturer aims at 5000 electric cars, sold, wih private customers accounting for 1600 to 1700 units.

Mass marketed EVs and IT to satisfy the users

Mitsubishi and Nissan plan on mass marketing their electric models at the beginning of 2010, counting both on a quick uptake of demand for EVs by the general public. Since Mitsubishi has announced mass marketing of the I-Miev for the general public in July 2009, the company has already received 700 pre-orders.

More EVs mean, however, that the government’s subsidy per car will drop proportionally. The Japanese electric car manufacturers lower the prices of their models in order to keep them affordable.

On top of this, Mitsubishi has announced plans to continuously expand the EV fast charger infrastructure throughout Japan and to improve the localisation system for fast charger points integrated in the car navigation system.