 The i-MiEV was launched for fleet customers in Japan in late July 2009, after Mitsubishi's more than 40 years in development of electric vehicles. Initial price was set at ¥ 4,590,000 (US $ 46,500). The Japanese government is offering subsidies of up to ¥ 1,390,000, and some local governments are also offering additional subsidies that could bring the price down to as low as ¥ 2,200,000. Mitsubishi reduced the price of the vehicle by ¥ 619,000 (US $ 6,700) to just below ¥ 4,000,000 two days before it went for retail sales in Japan in April 2010 to compete with the Nissan Leaf. As of early 2010 there were 60 charging stations in Japan.
