REPORT: Mitsubishi launches production of the iMiEV in Japan
Mitsubishi i MiEV - click above for high-res image gallery
Mitsubishi has launched series production of its iMiEV electric car at its Okayama, Japan factory. That makes the tri-diamond brand the first major automaker to kick off full scale production of a new EV, though it will be followed by many other automakers over the next two years. The automaker plans to build about 2,000 units through the remainder of this fiscal year and then crank that up to 5,000 next year. The first cars are going to corporate fleet customers but retail sales are expected to start later in the year.
The iMiEV has a range of about 100 miles from its lithium ion battery pack. The batteries are the result of a joint venture between Mitsubishi and GS Yuasa. Factoring government incentives available in Japan, the $45,660 iMiEV will end up costing about $31,300 at current exchange rates, which is a bit higher than the $27,000 price previously rumored. No decision has been made yet on when the car will be offered in the U.S. market, but we do know it will make its way here sometime. First, Mitsubishi needs to develop a production left-hand drive version.
Gallery: New York 2009: iMiEV
[Source: Nikkei]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Marcello 4:20PM (6/05/2009)
31K for a small electric car that only gets 100 miles on a full charge. WAY too over priced for what you are getting. I know trecently has the beginning of this whole green/electric vehicle market/movement to come full force so its obviously gonna be a little pricey off the bat.......should be interesting to see what starts coming out in the next 5 years or so. Right now i don't like it...........but that doesn't mean im not open to it.
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Torrent 4:29PM (6/05/2009)
This car would be better if it had a Gas option. only 100 miles per charge is kinda dumb.
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Tourian 5:24PM (6/05/2009)
It does. Its called the Mitsubishi i.
Torrent 5:26PM (6/05/2009)
Ah. Well then I want that one.
rpiotr01 4:30PM (6/05/2009)
Boy is that thing ugly.
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James 4:38PM (6/05/2009)
The discrepancy in price might have more to do with the yen's fluctuating value than anything else.
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Chuan 6:57PM (6/05/2009)
Agreed. Plus things in other countries tend to be much more expensive. We as Americans take things for granted lol.
James 9:50PM (6/05/2009)
I'm certainly not an expert on the currency markets, but it's something to at least think about. Another thing is also that car prices in many other countries (i.e. Europe, and ...I think Japan, too) tend to be quoted with tax included (and these taxes are often higher than they are in the US), whereas this is never the norm here. It's not always so straightforward!
dukeisduke 4:39PM (6/05/2009)
At least it won't be huffing blue smoke anytime soon, unlike their gas-powered cars.
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alfaBAT9 5:32PM (6/05/2009)
Hey cool, a pimped out Nano..
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VP 6:44PM (6/05/2009)
That's the exact same thing that i thought of when i first saw the picture. It's tastefully done but it looks like a carbon copy of the Nano.
Toy Yoda 7:22PM (6/05/2009)
It's a cute looking car. Needs a Hello Kitty painted on it's doors. :)
Anyways, the Nano would be a "copy" of this car, as this car came out long before the Nano.
Tourian 10:19AM (6/06/2009)
@ Toy Yoda
I didn't notice a nod and wink in your post, you do know there is a Hello Kitty i that was reported here on AB, right? Just checking.
Kwesi 10:18PM (6/06/2009)
The I has been in Production years before the Nano wa even conceived... the gas-car is due a makeover around the same time the nano is to be launched LOL.. this is just a new, electric version
alfaBAT9 12:10PM (6/07/2009)
My own ignorance is to blame. That, and few cars have managed to surpass the Nano as far as international publicity and hype. So it's no surprise that the Nano is one of the first that comes to mind when it comes to cars designed with this shape.