2016 Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell car at Newport Beach, CA, Nov 2014 (Photo : Reuters)
The Japanese auto giant Toyota claimed that California can start placing orders for $58,000 Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell electric car this summer and vehicles will be delivered at eight California dealerships in October.
Toyota Mirai is the first full-fledged, major fuel-cell car available for complete purchase, USA Today reported. However, the vehicle is available in California in the meantime. Other carmakers that manufacturer fuel-cell vehicles offer leases - only transactions and clients cannot purchase the car at the end of the lease.
The announcement from Toyota is the most comprehensive since it unveils the time, place, and price of the Mirai being released. The car will go at $58325 inclusive of the current shipping charges of $825 for all 2015 vehicles from Toyota. Since Mirai is a 2016 model, there is a possibility for the shipping charges to go up.
The Japanese company projects a sale of approximately 3,000 units by the end of 2017, and the vehicle will be produced continuously since it is here to stay.
According to Detroit Free Press, the hydrogen refilling stations make the whole deal realistic. However, the company has entered a partnership with French Corporation, Air Liquide, to build hydrogen stations in the Northeast from 2016. The company will begin building such stations in New York City, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhodes Island to house Mirai sales in the respective states, which have a common ground with California concerning clean air policies.
Currently, Hyundai and Honda lease fuel-cell cars as opposed to selling them. Honda has been leasing its FCX Clarity for some years now, but Hyundai started the lease in June 2014 with its Tucson SUV.
