Mitsubishi i-Miev replacement unlikely to meet NZ requirements

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation is unveiling an all-new replacement for the electric i-Miev kei-car (Japanese Microcar) at the 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon (January 14-16) but future production vehicles are unlikely to meet the requirements for the New Zealand market.

Production of the replacement i-Miev is scheduled to begin in April 2022.

MMC says the replacement i-Miev concept is founded on safety, security and comfort, as well as environmental-friendliness. 

“It combines the handling and practical size of a kei-car with smooth yet powerful road performance of an EV, while offering advanced driver assistance systems and connectivity,” MMC says.

However, Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand chief operating officer Daniel Cook says the new EV kei-car is unlikely to meet our market requirements in terms of homologation and safety. 

Cook says the New Zealand arm of MMC has discussed the concept with its Japanese parent, and in spite of his personal desire to import the EV kei-car, he says a strong business case for such a vehicle is looking “very unlikely”. 

MMC will also reveal a Ralliart concept car at the 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba.

It says the Ralliart concept brings together MMC’s engineering and passion for Monozukuri challenges (craftsmanship). 

“The styling expresses the company’s vision for the new Ralliart,” MMC says.