Mitsubishi has announced it will accelerate the United States rollout out of its all-electric i-MiEV by six months. In addition to the advanced rollout of the i-MiEV, or simply i, Mitsubishi says it will launch a second electric vehicle in the U.S. by 2013.
Mitsubishi originally had December 2012 circled on its calendar for the full rollout of its i electric vehicle, but the Japanese automaker says it has moved that date up to June 2012. Mitsubishi says it advanced the i’s nationwide launch date after receiving requests from its U.S. dealer base.
“We shifted the timing by six months, so we are preparing ourselves to launch for the entire country by June,” Mitsubishi President Osamu Masuko said. “That must demonstrate our high expectations for this product.”
Mitsubishi started North American production of the i in October and began sales of the EV in select U.S. states this month. The i is currently for sale in California, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii and Illinois, with deliveries of the car slated to begin next month. Mitsubishi hopes to eventually sell 10,000 units of the i in the United States annually, but has yet to attach a date to that goal.
In addition to the news about the i, Mitsubishi also announced that it will begin sales of an electric version of its new Mirage in the United States in 2013. Mitsubishi is also considering marketing a gas-powered version of the Mirage small car in the U.S., but has yet to make an official decision on the matter.
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1.’Mitsubishi pulls forward…’ view
