Mitsubishi has just announced that its battery-powered iMiEV will go into production starting next year with the initial output of 2,000 units. The news comes straight from the Mitsubishi Motors President Osamu Masuko, supported by the automaker's recently expanded capacity for Lithium-Ion battery manufacturing.

At the outset the all-electric hatch will be sold in Japan, projected to double the yield to 4,000 vehicles in the coming year. Mitsubishi says it will price the iMiEV at roughly 3 million yen or $27,500. But an increased demand and volume could lower that price to a more reasonable, subcompact-worthy figure.

Tempting as it is, the iMiEV is still far from our shores. According to the Edmunds Green Car Advisor, "no plans for a retail version of the car for the U.S. market have been announced, but we know there is a lot of internal lobbying to bring the car over here." For more on the Mitsubishi iMiEV, including a comprehensive PDF presentation describing its ultra-ergonomic design, drivetrain specifications and the next-generation Lithium-ion battery pack, go here.