MITSUBISHI has announced all its franchised dealers are to become fully functioning EV centres from this month.
By the end of March 2012, the approved dealerships will have two fully trained EV sales personnel as well as aftersales technicians. The announcement comes ahead of the arrival of the firm’s first plug-in hybrid technologies within the next 18 months.
Lance Bradley, Mitsubishi Motors in the UK’s managing director, said: ‘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,’ added Bradley.
All Mitsubishi EV Centres will have Mitsubishi i-MiEV demonstrator vehicles that will be available for customers to properly test and experience over a prolonged period an EV.
This, says Mitsubishi, will make the Japanese firm the largest EV dealer network in the UK providing sales and after-sales coverage.