Mitsubishi Motors to end production of the world's first mass-produced electric vehicle September 18, 23:04 due to reduced competitiveness
Mitsubishi Motors has begun adjustments to end production of the electric vehicle "I-MiEV."
Eleven years ago, it was an electric vehicle that started mass production ahead of the rest of the world, but after that, domestic and foreign manufacturers entered the market one after another, and sales were sluggish.
Mitsubishi Motors' i-MiEV is a small electric vehicle that was first sold to the general public in 2009, ahead of manufacturers around the world, and attracted attention as a full-scale eco-car that does not emit greenhouse gases.
However, as domestic and foreign manufacturers entered the field of electric vehicles, they became less competitive in terms of mileage and price, and sales in fiscal 2019 were only a few hundred units worldwide.
For this reason, according to the people concerned, adjustments have been made to end the production of the "i-MiEV" by March next year.
Mitsubishi Motors is currently focusing on PHEV = plug-in hybrid vehicles that can be recharged, and is also considering the development of a new electric vehicle with Nissan Motors, which forms a coalition. It seems that there is an aim to achieve this.
Mitsubishi Motors has also decided to stop production of the four-wheel drive vehicle "Pajero", which was the company's signboard, in July, and the former symbolic cars will disappear one after another.