Shock as Mitsubishi pulls plug on UK sales

One of the biggest players in the electrified car market has shocked the world by announcing it is to withdraw from the European market.

Mitsubishi, which makes the best-selling Outlander PHEV, will no longer launch any new vehicles for Europe, and will concentrate instead on its more profitable markets in the Far East. The existing models will continue to be sold in the until production stops.

The new Outlander PHEV, seen here as a concept show car, will not be sold in the UK

The news will come as a shock to the 50,000 Outlander PHEV owners in the UK. The car was due to be replaced next year with an all new model which offered seven seats and an improved range. The company also planned a PHEV version of its smaller Eclipse Cross and a full EV version of the next ASX.

The company was also a pioneer of full electric cars with its i-MIEV city car, but stepped back from the BEV market to concentrate on PHEV sales. 

A plug-in version of the Eclipse Cross was also planned

The move has come after the company faced huge losses which have forced it to publish a plan to return back to profit. Cutting European sales will save it a fortune in development costs as the cars will not need to be developed for stricter emissions and crash regulations.

Existing owners need not worry about after-sales part supply and maintenance however, as the global company and the UK importer have pledged to support customers. 

The 50,000 UK owners of the existing Outlander will be supported with parts and servicing