The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has launched the facelifted Mitsubishi Outlander range at the company’s global headquarters in Tokyo.

The Mayor unveiled the refreshed Outlander together with Mitsubishi Chairman and CEO Osamu Masuko, UK Managing Director Lance Bradley, as well as senior company executives and staff.

So why did Mitsubishi invite the Mayor of London to the event? Well, Boris Johnson’s initiatives such as an ultra-low emission zone in London and his drive for more plug-in vehicles in the city have contributed to the success of Mitsubishi’s Outlander PHEV.

As a matter of fact, Outlander PHEV accounts for half of all plug-in vehicle sales in the UK, which is why Mitsubishi views the UK as one of the most significant markets in the world for its ULEV (ultra-low emission vehicle) technologies. Boris Johnson’s initiatives have encouraged the company to bring its new technology to the UK, generating investment, skills and jobs into an emerging vehicle sector.

“We greatly appreciate the significant progress the Mayor’s initiatives in London have made to encourage the uptake of ultra-low emission vehicles. We are very proud that the Mayor has taken this opportunity to unveil our new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV here in Tokyo today,” said Mitsubishi’s Chairman and CEO, Osamu Masuko.

Mitsubishi has sold 9,303 Outlander PHEVs so far this year in the UK, and the facelifted model is expected to boost sales even further.

“This car proves that the technology is there and I hope it will give great encouragement to the consumer to think that mass production of vehicles like this is now bringing the price down to an affordable level so by 2020 when in London we have the first ultra low emissions zone, cars like the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV will qualify,” Boris Johnson said.

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