You can no longer buy a Mitsubishi iMiev in the United States, with 2017 being the final model year for the EV and all retail units having now been sold.
Word of the iMiev’s demise comes directly from Mitsubishi North America’s Erica Rasch. She confirmed to that the iMiev was no longer available for purchase at American Mitsubishi dealerships, later adding that the Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-In Hybrid will launch in the U.S. later this year before arriving dealers in early 2018.
The iMiev won’t be missed by many. It was first put on sale in the U.S. in 2011 and 2012 model year vehicle, with Mitsubishi selling just 2,108 examples of the car between then and July 2017. A quarter of those were sold in 2012 and another half were sold in 2013, meaning the iMiev’s been selling at snail’s pace for the past few years. Actually, that’s insulting to snails.
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When you consider the iMiev’s performance relative to other EVs, it’s easy to see why it hasn’t exactly been flying off dealer lots. Its 16 kWh battery pack provides just 62 miles of range, and its single electric motor produces just 62 horsepower and 133 lb-ft of torque. The Outlander PHEV boasts an electric range of 37 miles, but as it’s a hybrid and not a pure EV, buyers won’t have to concern themselves with range as they would have with the iMiev.
It’s worth noting that the Renault-Nissan Alliance acquired a controlling stake in Mitsubishi Motors last year. That means Mitsubishi’s parent company will soon have a competitive EV on sale in North America in the way of the new Nissan Leaf, which is set to debut in September.
[Source: Green Car Reports]
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