With a plan for EVs and EV-derived PHEVs to represent 20% of its global sales by 2020, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has set itself an ambitious, yet realistic target.
In this respect, the successful sales launch of Outlander PHEV in Europe – MMC’s first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle and forerunner of a wider PHEV range – tends to vindicate the Corporation’s objectives.
First launched in selected markets (The Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Switzerland) from October 2013, Outlander PHEV has collected over 12,000 orders in Europe and these have already translated into 8,197 deliveries to end-customers by the end of December, of which 8,009 units for The Netherlands, the latter boosted by a tax scheme favourable to eco-friendly technologies such as low-emission vehicles.
With more cars currently on their way to Europe, Mitsubishi Motor Sales Netherlands will soon be able to deliver the 11,000+ orders currently in its books and growing. Beyond this initial success, the car will be progressively launched in other European markets throughout 2014, adding substantial volume whilst balancing this Dutch success.
As a reminder, MMC estimates that Outlander PHEV global production volume will reach approximately 30,000 units by the end of March 2014 since launch in January 2013. Full year capacity (as from FY14) will be of more than 50,000 units, with Europe its largest market.
