Mitsubishi has lowered the price of its i-MiEV electric car in conjunction with the launch of sales to individuals.
Sales to individuals will begin 1 April, with a new lower price of 3.98million yen (US$42,690); that’s a 619,000 yen savings from the previous price. Providing current government incentives remain in place, the i-MiEV will be eligible for a 1.14million subsidy, cutting the total cost to 2.84million yen ($30,700).
A senior Mitsubishi official, meanwhile, told the news agency MMC decided on the price cut as it took into consideration Nissan’s Leaf pricing.
Mitsubishi will continue to sell the i-MiEV on a maintenance lease basis, under which the monthly payments include some of the taxes, insurance and maintenance costs. Mitsubishi aims to sell 4,000 i-MiEVs in fiscal year 2010.
So far, 1,400 i-MiEVs have been sold in fiscal year 2009. Mitsubishi is also targeting exports of 5,000 i-MiEVs during the 2010 fiscal year. Meanwhile, Nissan aims to sell 6,000 Leaf units in Japan in fiscal year 2010.
