Japan's first mass-market electric car arrived in showrooms Thursday as the futuristic technology becomes more affordable amid a burgeoning price war.
The four-seater bubble-shaped i-MiEV from Mitsubishi Motors Corp., Japan's fifth-biggest automaker, costs ¥2.8 million after government incentives are figured into the price of ¥4 million.
Proud i-MiEV buyer Chitoshi Okunuki, 72, placed an advance order at a higher price in August and was thrilled at Mitsubishi's decision Tuesday to cut the price by ¥620,000. That came the same day rival Nissan Motor Co. announced it will take orders for its own electric car, the Leaf.