Toyota Mirai Pricing to Eventually Compete With Diesels
Toyota is aiming for its Mirai fuel-cell vehicle to eventually be price competitive with diesels.
The 2016 Toyota Mirai will launch with a starting price of $58,325 including destination but the Japanese automaker is hoping to cut its price in the coming years. According to Katsuhiko Hirose, project general manager for Toyota’s fuel cell development division, the company wants its fuel cell vehicles to be priced roughly the same as a modern diesel. Don’t expect it to happen anytime soon as Hirose said it could take 15 years, even if executives want it done in half the time.
SEE ALSO: 2016 Toyota Mirai Review
Hirose believes that fuel cell vehicles will take about the same time to be accepted as hybrids did, which was about 10 to 15 years. In the same interview with Automotive News, the project general manager also noted that the currently weak infrastructure for hydrogen refueling shouldn’t be viewed as an obstacle to purchase due to the Mirai’s range – about 310 miles, which is substantially more than the majority of electric vehicles available.
[Source: Automotive News]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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There won't be any diesels around by the time the Miria get to a comparable price. Currently the Miria is hand built and not a mass produced vehicle and is just another ZEV compliance car.