Electric vehicle buyers in Canada and the United States will soon have a new alternative to the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt. Mitsubishi announced on Friday that its has officially begun production of its North American-spec i-MiEV electric vehicle.
Currently rolling off Mitsubishi’s assembly line at its Mizushima Plant, the i-MiEV will arrive is select U.S. Markets next month. The i-MiEV will initially launch in Hawaii, California, Washington, and Oregon, but will be rolled out to additional markets by the end of 2012.
The North American version of the i-MiEV required a few changes from the global model, including advanced air bags, a tire pressure monitoring system and revised front and rear bumpers. Mitsubishi also gave the NA-spec car more torque to better match our driving style.
The i-MiEV launched in Japan in 2009 and hit the European market last year. Mitsubishi is shifting towards an electric lineup, so expect more vehicles like the i-MiEV from the Japanese automaker in the coming years.
