Mitsubishi confirms i-MiEV for U.S.

Already angling for sales in excess of 20,000 units annually, Mitsubishi took the opportunity of the New York Auto Show to announce it will be selling the i-MiEV electric car in the U.S. and other global markets.

The car is already in testing in California, Oregon, Tucson and elsewhere, but the subject of U.S. sales had until now been shied away from. Now, the company is eager to talk about its plans for the i-MiEV and other electric vehicles as well.

"Electric vehicles are one branch of the automotive landscape and we are dedicated to providing these technology-sourced solutions as an important path for the world's clean-air options," explained Mitsubishi Motors North America president and CEO Shinichi Kurihara. "We believe the i MiEV delivers on the promise of sustainability, suitable range, performance, and innovative packaging and styling."

While Motor Authority had the opportunity to test a right-hand drive unit on the streets of Los Angeles during last year's Los Angeles Auto Show, the cars headed for the U.S. will be left-hand drive.

A set of concepts, including the Sport Air and Prototype i-MiEV give indications at what future U.S. i-MiEV and its offspring could look like. The Prototype i-MiEV in particular is essentially a production-ready example of the car that will be hitting markets starting in 2010.

Initial U.S. launch can be expected sometime in 2011, with a much bigger sales push to start after 2012, once the 20,000-unit target is reached.