Mitsubishi has already sold out its first year production of iMiEVs before its official introduction to the Japanese market that is slated for July. Mitsubishi has responded to the increased demand by increasing its own capacity.
For 2010, Mitsubishi will increase capacity for the iMiEV to 4,000 to 5,000 units and hopes to add additional capacity to produce up to 20,000 units in 2011. A number that Japan's newspaper The Nikkei calls speculative.
The first 2,000 iMiEVs have been leased by commercial companies including Tokyo Electric Power Company and the convenience store chain Lawson.
Mitsubishi has plans to broaden the reach of the iMiEV by selling in Europe in 2010 and to individual consumers throughout Japan in 2011.
The company has concentrated its EV efforts into the iMiEV and hopes to take on hybrid competition from Honda and Toyota in its home country.
Source: Associated Press
