Mitsubishi Will Drop i-MiEV Price By “Thousands”

December 5, 201310 years ago Nicholas Brown 1 Comment

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Mitsubishi is reportedly going to decrease the price of its i-MiEV electric vehicle by $6,130 from its 2012 price of $29,900 (before incentives). It will be introduced as the 2014 i-MiEV, selling for $22,995 before the $7,500 federal EV tax credit ($15,495 after that).

The 2014 model will come with the DC fast-charging port which used to cost $700 as a standard feature, but the vehicle will have the same 240 volt, Level 2, on-board, 3.3 kW charger that fully recharges the battery pack (from 0% state of charge) in seven hours.

However, the 120 volt, Level 1 charger will be modified to include a switch that enables the user to choose between 8 and 12 amp charging. Previously, only 8 amp charging was supported. Switching from 8 amp to 12 amp charging reduces charge time from 22.54 hours to 14 hours.

Apart from the above, there are some other modifications which can provide convenience and safety benefits, such as standard heated side mirrors to keep snow at bay, a passenger seat warmer, and a battery warming system, as battery performance tends to decrease when too cold.

According to PluginCars.com:

The i-MiEV has been a slow seller in the U.S. Indeed, Mitsubishi skipped releasing a 2013 model i-MiEV and dealerships still have some supply of 2012 models. There has been speculation that the i-MiEV will be phased out and perhaps replaced by a model produced through Mitsubishi’s partnership with Renault and Nissan. That partnership was announced in early November. But, said Yasukawa, “no formal decision has been made as to what the successor” to the i-MiEV will be.

The big break that has kept sales slow has been the relatively high price for the offering. As Jo Borras of Gas2 writes: “Mitsubishi’s tiny MiEV electric car has always been cute, but when I first checked it out at the Chicago Auto Show back in 2012, the high price, chintzy interior, and general lack of interior refinement in a car with a nearly $30,000 price tag made it a bit of a no-go.”

As the cheapest mass-manufactured electric car on the US market now, it seems i-MiEV sales could really pick up. We’ll see….

For full review, here are the details released by Mitsubishi:

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is proud to announce that the company’s new 2014 Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric-powered production vehicle not only receives an expanded standard equipment package but also sees a considerable price reduction of $6,130 over the previous 2012 model year vehicle.

The 2014 model year Mitsubishi i-MiEV ES model including CHAdeMO DC quick charge port, battery warming system and heated side view mirrors now starts at only $22,995 – an astonishing $6,130 price reduction from the previous generation. After factoring in the Federal tax credit of $7,500, the net MSRP of the 2014 Mitsubishi i-MiEV drops down to only $15,495*.

With a net MSRP of only $15,495 after factoring in the available EV federal tax credit of $7,500 and, for example, with the California state EV financial incentive of up to $2,500** (other generous financial incentives are available through numerous states and municipalities), residents in California can obtain the technologically-advanced 2014 Mitsubishi i-MiEV for as low as $12,995.

Furthermore, the new 2014 Mitsubishi i-MiEV boasts a much more comprehensive standard equipment package. Newly added items that are now standard equipment at no charge to the consumer include:

Accessories/Features
– Driver and front passenger heated seats
– CHAdeMO DC quick charge port
– Battery warming system
– Heated side view mirrors
– Rear door speakers
– 8A/12A switchable Level 1 charging cable
– Charge port lamp

Interior Enhancements
– Leather-covered steering wheel and shift knob
– Passenger-side vanity mirror with lid
– Numerous decorative color/trim upgrades

Exterior Enhancements
– Aluminum wheels
– Front fog lights
– New daytime running lights (DRL)
– Black-out door sash trim

To date, more than 30,000 Mitsubishi i-MiEV and i-MiEV-based production vehicles have been sold around the globe. In such diverse markets as the U.S., Europe and Asia, the i-MiEV has proven to be a safe, convenient and utterly reliable eco-friendly form of personal transportation in any market in which it is sold.