By the end of March, every dealership will have two fully trained electric vehicle sales personnel and aftersales technicians, claimed to give Mitsubishi the largest specialist dealer network in the UK.

Each dealership will also have i-MiEV demonstrator vehicles, available to fleet and retail customers for extended test drives, with durations dependent on availability. Mitsubishi said this was important to fully demonstrate the technology to potential customers.

Lance Bradley, MMUK MD, explained: ‘The pure EV i-MiEV has now been a reality for the last year with lots more new plug-in hybrid technology and vehicles to come to the UK soon. Our dealer network will provide excellent service and be able to offer the best advice to our retail and fleet customers.

‘Staff will undertake an extensive training programme so that there is a very clear understanding of the demands and requirements of electric vehicles for consumers, as well as an awareness of the wider industry issues relating to the EV marketplace. 

‘Their after-sales departments will also comply with compulsory manufacturer training and require specialist tools to enable the service and maintenance of electric vehicles,’ he said.