UK Plug-In car registrations surpass 2014 total in just six months.

• Electric car registrations reach 14,586, surpassing last year’s annual total
• New figures show electric vehicle registrations up 256% year-on-year
• Every UK region more than doubles uptake of plug-in cars
• Jan-June: UK consumers bought an electrically-powered car every 18 minutes

Registrations of plug-in cars have accelerated rapidly over the first six months of 2015, growing 256% against the same period last year and surpassing the 2014 full-year total with six months to spare.

New analysis by Go Ultra Low shows that motorists are switching on to the money-saving benefits of buying a plug-in electric vehicle. From January to June, 14,586 new registrations of ultra low emission vehicles (ULEV) were made, a significant year-to-date increase on the 4,096 of the same timeframe in 2014.

The record volumes exceed last year’s 14,498 annual total registrations of vehicles eligible for Government’s Plug-in Car Grant, the highest volume ever at the year’s halfway point. The same comparison of January-June registrations for 2014 against 2013 saw an increase of 163%*, the robust rises emphasising the sustained and increasing scale of the UK electrically-powered vehicle market.

Transport Minister Andrew Jones said, “Soaring demand across the UK shows that more and more people view ultra low emission vehicles as the right choice for them. Plug-in cars are green, cheap to run and benefit both families and businesses. The Government is investing £500 million over the next five years to help position Britain as a world leader in the technology, supporting skilled jobs and driving economic growth.”

Government expectations that 5% of new car registrations (around 100,000 units) will be ultra low emission by 2020 look to be achievable at the current rate of growth. With 35 plug-in cars and vans currently on the market, the variety and scale of choice is contributing to the rapid growth.

“Being just six months in to 2015 and having already exceeded last year’s total plug-in car registrations is testament to consumer confidence in this capable and cost-effective technology,” said Hetal Shah, Head of Go Ultra Low. “The year-on-year rises give us great confidence in the future of electric cars as we move towards an ultra low emission future.”

Financial factors

With running costs of plug-in cars significantly cheaper than petrol or diesel-powered alternatives, a money-saving end goal could be the driving force behind the surge in electric vehicles’ popularity. Electric cars can be driven for as little as 2p per mile, compared with 10-12p for a conventionally powered car. Furthering their appeal, the variety of city, family, SUV and sports cars provide the practicality motorists crave, while boasting up to 700 miles range.

Plug-in bestsellers

The newest stats reveal that Mitsubishi leads the new registrations charge, with 7,255 of its flagship Outlander PHEV sold since the start of 2015. Nissan follows with its all-electric LEAF racking up 2,964 registrations, almost twice the 1,760 recorded at the same stage in 2014, and BMW’s i3 is the nation’s third most popular ULEV, also nearly doubling its registrations tally with 1,111 registrations.

UK top ranked ultra low emission cars for year-to-date 2015

Rank	Ultra low emission vehicle	2015 year-to-date registrations
1	Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV	7,255
2	Nissan LEAF	2,964
3	BMW i3	1,111

Regional registrations

The South of England leads all other regions on volumes of uptake. With more than 3,000 cars and vans registered there for the year-to-date, it makes the south the epicentre of plug-in motoring, while the South West takes the prize for growth (increasing its electric vehicle purchases by more than 400% from January-June). Every region of the United Kingdom recorded a year-to-date increase in registrations London boasted the second-biggest regional volume with more than 2,500 registrations, while the East ranked third topping 2,000 plug-ins.

UK regions 2015 vs 2014 year-to-date registrations by growth

UK region	2015 year-to-date registrations	2014 year-to-date registrations	% Change
South West	478	92	420%
East	2126	422	404%
South	3088	679	355%
Wales	351	100	251%
East Yorkshire/Lincolnshire	145	44	230%
Yorkshire	872	273	219%
West Midlands	2034	657	210%
Northern Ireland	253	82	209%
North West	956	311	207%
East Midlands	346	113	206%
London	2505	826	203%
South East	336	117	187%
North East And Cumbria	576	221	161%
West	330	129	156%
Scotland	715	314	128%

Plug-in Car Grant

At least £200 million has been made available to continue the Plug-in Car Grant from 2015-2020. Government is currently reviewing how the plug-in car grant is structured. Following this review, new levels of grant will be available based on each car’s CO₂ emissions and the electric range of the vehicle.

Go Ultra Low exists to help motorists understand the benefits, cost savings and capabilities of the raft of new ultra-low emission vehicles on the market. The collaborative campaign is the first of its kind, bringing together a consortium of seven leading vehicle manufacturers (Audi, BMW, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Renault, Toyota and Volkswagen), Government and the SMMT.

FLEET HONOURS AWARD - Mitsubishi continues to reap the rewards of a stunning PHEV Car.

Mitsubishi Motors UK is celebrating today after the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV was awarded the ‘Best Ultra Low Emission Vehicle’ at this year’s Fleet World Honours, at the RAC Club in Pall Mall, London.

The Fleet World Honours are presented annually to those motor manufacturers, service companies and individuals that have, in the opinion of the judges, achieved the highest possible level of excellence in their sector.

The Fleet World Honours are open to all motor manufacturers. The judging process combines the expert opinion of the Fleet World editorial team with the values provided by a number of leading leasing companies and fleet data providers.

The judging panel is chaired by Steve Moody, Editor of Fleet World, and includes John Kendall, Alex Grant, Natalie Wallis and Dan Gilkes from the Fleet World editorial team. 

Residual value, maintenance and reliability data is provided by ALD Automotive, LeasePlan and Arval. Market value data is provided by EurotaxGlass and CAP.

Fleet World Editor, Steve Moody, said:

"Helped by price parity with the diesel version, the Outlander PHEV’s phenomenal success has transformed Mitsubishi’s presence in fleet. Over 10,000 sold in the UK in its first eight months, overtaking the Nissan LEAF’s four-year total. 

Two thirds of Outlander PHEV sales went to business users. 

With ongoing investment in the dealer network and production being expanded in Japan, Mitsubishi Motors UK reckons it’s only the beginning. But what a start."

Commenting on the overall standard of entries in this year’s awards, Steve added:

“The EV market has had a significant year with a number of strong new entries, and for the first time it looks as though it can gain a firm foothold in the UK car market. The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has been instrumental in this change."

The combination of the Outlander’s powerful electric motors and petrol engine give it a smooth, quiet, refined ride with the potential of reaching 148mpg^[1]. It only emits 44g/km CO₂^[2], which means no Vehicle Excise Duty (VED). Most significantly, the entry model Outlander PHEV is available to buy at the same price as its diesel equivalent, starting at £28,249^[3].

What’s more, company car drivers will further benefit - a 40% tax paying customer will pay company car tax on the Outlander PHEV of £665 in the first year. Businesses benefit because they can write-down the vehicle’s full value in the first 12 months.

Lance Bradley, Managing Director of Mitsubishi Motors UK, said;

“The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is very different to other hybrids in the market and we are delighted that it has won this award at the Fleet World Honours. Having the best-selling EV of any kind in the UK market that boasts such credentials has already generated a lot of interest from fleet operators and leasing companies – it’s a very exciting time for Mitsubishi Motors UK.” 

^[1] Based on official testing and figures

^[2] Based on EU drive cycle figures

^[3] Post P-ICG Grant

Mitsubishi celebrates another Green award for its outstanding Outlander PHEV

Mitsubishi Motors in the UK is celebrating its success at the 2014 Green Fleet Awards. The presentation was made by motoring journalist Quentin Willson at the Heritage Motor Centre Museum in Gaydon.

The awards recognise individuals and organisations which strive to reduce the environmental impact of fleet transport through innovation. 

The PHEV Manufacturer of the Year Award is sponsored by EDF Energy. It recognises the manufacturer of either a commercial or consumer PHEV that demonstrates the best performance and best suitability for purpose in its class. Shortlisted, alongside the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV was the Toyota Prius Plug-in hybrid and the Volvo V60 Plug-in hybrid.

Clive Messenger, Head of Corporate Sales at Mitsubishi in the Motors UK, said:

“We are absolutely delighted that we have won ‘PHEV Manufacturer of the Year’ at the GreenFleet Awards. The Outlander PHEV is an exciting new vehicle, at the forefront of a new era in fleet and company car use.”

The Outlander PHEV is a full-sized family 4x4 SUV. It uses both electric and petrol power to propel itself. Unlike many other traditional hybrid vehicles, the Outlander PHEV can travel a long way without using any petrol, 32.5 miles in fact. Such an impressive electric range gives the vehicle phenomenal environmental credentials. It emits just 44g/km of CO₂ and the official combined fuel consumption figure is 148mpg.

THROW BACK THURSDAY 006 - Mitsubishi Outlander 3rd Gen has arrived. Time to party !

Mitsubishi Motors in the UK is pleased to announce the arrival of the all-new, third generation Mitsubishi Outlander.

Representing a hugely exciting opportunity for Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, the all-new Outlander will make a dramatic entrance into Mitsubishi showrooms all across the UK from early February. Eagerly awaited, the all-new SUV from Mitsubishi Motors is the greenest, most stylish and most technologically advanced yet.

Be Safe, Not Sorry

Careful development of the outgoing Outlander’s architecture and safety equipment means that the all-new vehicle is not only the most environmentally friendly but also the safest Outlander ever produced. Achieving an impressive 5 star Euro NCAP safety rating, with new features such as City Crash Provision and the improvement of Mitsubishi’s existing safety system “RISE” as standard, the new vehicle also boasts a new range topping GX5 derivative with Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Mitigation and clever Adaptive Cruise Control technology. Throughout each element of the comprehensive NCAP test, the all-new Outlander scored highly, particularly in the “Safety Assist” section, achieving an exceptional 100%!

A Bit of Peace… And Quiet…

The all-new Mitsubishi Outlander offers style and substance. Benefiting from advanced specifications and enhanced safety features, noise and vibration are substantially reduced and along with multi-link suspension means that passengers will enjoy a better ride experience. The ‘peaceful’ Outlander is aided further by new tyres and better positioning of sound proofing materials. And with all-new third row seating, which has been completely reengineered from the outgoing model, it now means that even the rear-most passengers have a more comfortable journey too!

Style and substance are also reflected in the interior of the vehicle. A simple, tasteful design with smooth lines made from high-quality materials gives the Outlander a rich, premium feel.  The dashboard ‘envelopes’ the driver, and there are ergonomic steering wheel controls and high-resolution, easy-to-read instrument displays. Clarity, confidence and quality are the watchwords.

Efficient Aerodynamics

Mitsubishi engineers have reduced the all-new Outlander by 100kg, compared with the out-going model, improving efficiency and performance. With a drag coefficient of 0.33, the new vehicle produces 7% less aerodynamic resistance than the old one too!

Under the Bonnet

The all-new Outlander will be available with a redeveloped version of the established and technologically advanced Mitsubishi 4N14 2.2-litre 16v DOHC diesel engine, which now produces improved low-end torque, superior fuel economy, class leading CO2 emissions of just 138 g/km of CO2  and easily meets the latest Euro 6 emission standards.

Green Thinking

That’s not all, although the clean diesel has the best fuel economy and emissions figures of any of its key competitors in the 7 seat 4x4 segment[1], the all-new Outlander has been designed from the ground up to incorporate Mitsubishi’s advanced plug-in hybrid technology, due to the UK in a few months’ time. As such, the new Outlander is the first mainstream car from a major manufacturer designed to have built-in provisions for either Internal Combustion Engine or Plug-In Hybrid powertrains.

Step It Up A Gear

Two gearboxes are available with the new generation Outlander: A Six-speed manual and a INVECS-II six-speed automatic. The six-speed manual gearbox has been developed with lower emissions in mind, but not at the cost of driving dynamics. A major difference with the outgoing Outlander is the availability of a conventional six-speed automatic gearbox which replaces the previous twin-clutch ‘TC-SST’.

Something For Everyone…

The all-new Outlander is ideal for its customers’ needs thanks to a range of 4 well-equipped trim specifications.

GX2

5 Seats

Automatic lighting

Coming home headlamps

Colour-keyed front & rear bumper

60/40 rear seats

Six speaker stereo with CD, MP3 connectivity and USB

Cruise control

Mono colour LCD display

Single-zone air conditioning

M-ASTC

Air bags – Curtain, dual stage front & drivers knee airbags

Hill start assist

Eco mode

Tonneau cover

Colour coded door mirrors & door handles

16” Steel wheels

GX3 (Specification of GX2 plus)

7 Seats

Third row seats, second row has a sliding function

Dual zone air conditioning

Front fog lamps

Rain sensing wipers

Power folding door mirrors

Door mirror turn lamp

High contrast mono-colour LCD display

Leather steering wheel, gear knob & handbrake

Bluetooth hands-free with USB & steering mounted controls

Privacy glass

Black roof rails

Tonneau cover

Colour coded door mirrors & door handles

18” Alloy wheels

GX4 (Specification of GX3 plus)

2.2 Manual & 2.2 Automatic variant available

Leather upholstery

Heated & electric front seats

Rear parking sensors

Xenon HID headlights

KOS keyless entry system with push-button engine start

Mitsubishi Multi Communication System with Sat-Nav & rear camera

Head lamp washer

Anti-trapping electric sunroof

Chrome belt-line trim

Paddle shift (GX4 auto variants)

GX5 (Specification of GX4 plus)

2.2 Automatic

Adaptive cruise control

Forward collision mitigation system

Lane departure warning

DAB radio

Powered tailgate

Money Talks[2]

We are pleased to announce that the all-new Outlander has been competitively priced as follows:

GX1 4Work    £24,224.00

GX2              £23,699.00

GX3              £26,399.00

GX3 Leather  £27,724.00

GX4              £29,999.00

GX4 Auto      £31,399.00

GX5              £33,999.00

Future Proof

Residual values (RV), based on three years/30,000 miles, range from 38.9% to 42.6% - an average of 41% which is above the average of that of Outlander’s competition.

Colour Me Happy

Keenly anticipated by Mitsubishi’s dealer network, not to mention thousands of loyal Mitsubishi owners across the UK, the all-new Outlander will be available to buy from 1st February and will be available in the following colours:

Copper Metallic (Metallic)

Amethyst Black (Metallic)

Titanium Grey (Metallic)

Polar White (Solid)

Cool Silver (Metallic)

Tanzanite Blue (Pearlescent)

Silky White (Pearlescent)

TLC

The all-new Mitsubishi Outlander has a 3-year / unlimited mileage warranty together with a pan-European roadside assistance package. The service interval for new Outlander is 9,000 miles/12 months (whichever occurs first). Mitsubishi’s extremely competitive service plan (MSP), covering the first three scheduled services can be purchased for just £600 including VAT, with further MSP top-up cover available at the 4th and 5th services for an additional £570 including VAT.

Go Compare

The all-new Outlander has achieved a very competitive insurance group rating that varies between 22E and 23E depending on the derivative. The GX5 is particularly impressive, achieving a group 22E status, which is a full five groups below the equivalent Honda CR-V EX.

The View From The Top

Managing Director of Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, Lance Bradley, said:

"This car is hugely important for Mitsubishi Motors in the UK and we are confident that it will appeal to our existing customers and attract new ones. We are a niche manufacturer and cater for people who want something a little bit different. And of course, we specialise in four-wheel-drive with 70 per cent of the vehicles we sell being 4x4s. That is what we are famous for.

"This all-new Outlander is the first in a number of exciting new vehicles from Mitsubishi Motors this year and we are sure it will do well."

In A Nutshell

The Outlander has always been a popular choice for Mitsubishi Motors customers and this all-new model offers significant advancements on what is already a successful formula. Since 2001 a staggering 950,000 Outlanders have been sold worldwide and that trend looks set to continue, especially with style-conscious families desiring a versatile, premium and spacious vehicle – all of which are available from the all-new Outlander.

The new, assertive Outlander offers a very comforting sense of quiet, protection and safety to its occupants – a quality car of substance designed for long-haul travelling, it’s more economical, dynamic, safe and has outstanding environmental credentials. With this in mind, the new Outlander represents a truly segment-leading SUV.

The arrival of the much anticipated Outlander Plug-In Hybrid later this summer completes what is an exciting, innovative and technologically advanced Outlander range. Whilst the Outlander PHEV official homologation figures will be finalised in a few weeks time, the latest data already confirms the excellent credentials with targeted CO2 emissions (weighted) of 44g/km, fuel consumption of a staggering 147.9 mpg and an electric driving range of 32.5 miles.

And Did You Know…

Tried and tested: Mitsubishi’s new Outlander has excellent road manners too – which is no surprise as it is built on the same platform that has served its Evo X models so well.

Keeping your distance: Mitsubishi’s Adaptive Cruise Control System maintains a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front – even at low speeds. It can detect vehicles up to 200 metres away.

Premium feel: Padded surfaces, soft-touch finishes and gloss black appliques add a touch of luxury to the Outlander experience.

Avoid trouble: Lane Departure Warning System will keep you on course while Forward Collision Mitigation System detects obstacles on the road ahead and applies the brakes.

Space in spades: The cargo capacity with two people on board is 1,022 litres – that’s 1,798 pints!

Not too taxing: The Outlander 2.2 Manual is in VED Band E – the same as a Volkswagen Polo 1.4 petrol.

Kerb appeal: The kerb weight of a manual Outlander is 1,555kg. That’s less than a BMW 1 Series – and less than half as much as an Audi Q7. The low kerb weight helps to achieve best-in-class fuel economy.

A great drag act: The Outlander has the same drag coefficient (0.33) as the Nissan Micra.

Quick getaway: The 0-62mph time is 10.2 seconds, faster than a 1.6 Golf TDI.