Mitsubishi responds to Leaf pricing by cutting i-MiEV price by $6,700 in Japan

The finally official price of the Nissan Leaf has shocked a great number of automotive enthusiasts and potential buyers alike. The company stayed true to its words by keeping the Leaf price well within reason when many other automakers have priced their current or upcoming electric vehicles at astronomical levels. Case in point, Mitsubishi had priced the i-MiEV at the equivalent of $48,800 in Japan whereas the Leaf will go on sale in Japan at roughly $40,700. We say that Mitsubishi had priced the i-MiEV at $48,800, because that elevated price is no more.

Starting on Thursday, the company will drop the price of the i-MiEV by $6,700 in response to the low-ball price of the Leaf. The new price of $42,130 seems slightly more reasonable, but it's still a bit of a stretch given the vehicle's small size and lack of Leaf features. After subsidies, the i-MiEV can be bought in Japan for roughly $30,700, a decent price point for the relatively new technology. Mitsubishi has not announced if pricing will drop for the i-MiEVs sold outside of Japan, but with the price wars heating up, it seems likely. With this move, the price war has already benefited potential EV buyers. The question now is, how low can you go?

[Source: Green Car Advisor]