Vike
Well-known member
If you've had friends sort of interested in the i-MiEV but wish it were a better deal, that might not be long coming, now that Nissan's announced pricing for the new 2013 Leaf S:
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/nissan-slashing-price-leaf-battery-car-1B7972322
Nissan basically took a more "i-MiEV"-like approach to equipping the S, eschewing such nonsense as $1k LED headlights, a nav system on a car that can't leave town, and the flaky wireless CarWings system that seems to have made as many enemies as friends. At less than $29k, the Leaf S now beats the i-MiEV on price as well as everything else (except maximum cargo capacity, for those that need to move large boxes). We know that the i-MiEV has several technical advantages, ranging from the convenient (a more reliable RR meter) to the important (active thermal management of the battery), but from the perspective of most buyers these are technical arcana. Let's be realistic - put a Leaf S next to an i-MiEV ES, and who's going to pay more for the i?
Given that, once the Leaf S is generally available, I expect the double-digit U.S. i-MiEV monthly sales to date to more or less crash to zero until Mitsubishi lowers their price. Recouping development costs is now out the window - the only question now is whether Mitsubishi can sell the cars for enough to cover marginal manufacturing costs. If not, we may be seeing the i move to fire sale status in the very near future - watch this space, as they say.
It's a pity - I think Mitsubishi could have exploited its competitors' guilded lily pricing (a $40k Focus? Really?) to move a lot more EVs in 2012 if they'd just had the courage of their convictions and actively marketed their product. That window's now closed, and unless Mitsubishi has a secret plan for radically lowering their costs, I'm beginning to understand why their public comments have shifted to emphasize PHEVs.
Fortunately, with the Leaf S and Smart ForTwo ED headed for general availability, EV buyers more price-sensitive than Tesla customers will continue to have affordable choices in 2013 and hopefully beyond. I don't regret buying my i-MiEV, but I'm sorry it won't have more company on the road. My only real concern right now is that the failure of such a key piece of Mitsu's electrification initiative may finally take them out of the U.S. market altogether. That would be a serious inconvenience.
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/nissan-slashing-price-leaf-battery-car-1B7972322
Nissan basically took a more "i-MiEV"-like approach to equipping the S, eschewing such nonsense as $1k LED headlights, a nav system on a car that can't leave town, and the flaky wireless CarWings system that seems to have made as many enemies as friends. At less than $29k, the Leaf S now beats the i-MiEV on price as well as everything else (except maximum cargo capacity, for those that need to move large boxes). We know that the i-MiEV has several technical advantages, ranging from the convenient (a more reliable RR meter) to the important (active thermal management of the battery), but from the perspective of most buyers these are technical arcana. Let's be realistic - put a Leaf S next to an i-MiEV ES, and who's going to pay more for the i?
Given that, once the Leaf S is generally available, I expect the double-digit U.S. i-MiEV monthly sales to date to more or less crash to zero until Mitsubishi lowers their price. Recouping development costs is now out the window - the only question now is whether Mitsubishi can sell the cars for enough to cover marginal manufacturing costs. If not, we may be seeing the i move to fire sale status in the very near future - watch this space, as they say.
It's a pity - I think Mitsubishi could have exploited its competitors' guilded lily pricing (a $40k Focus? Really?) to move a lot more EVs in 2012 if they'd just had the courage of their convictions and actively marketed their product. That window's now closed, and unless Mitsubishi has a secret plan for radically lowering their costs, I'm beginning to understand why their public comments have shifted to emphasize PHEVs.
Fortunately, with the Leaf S and Smart ForTwo ED headed for general availability, EV buyers more price-sensitive than Tesla customers will continue to have affordable choices in 2013 and hopefully beyond. I don't regret buying my i-MiEV, but I'm sorry it won't have more company on the road. My only real concern right now is that the failure of such a key piece of Mitsu's electrification initiative may finally take them out of the U.S. market altogether. That would be a serious inconvenience.