According to Bradley, Mitsubishi’s eco-range will mirror current models with a small car, a C-segment model, small and large crossovers and a pick-up truck.

He acknowledged the 111-strong network was in a ‘difficult patch’ and that dealer profitability is under one per cent on average. “That’s below where I would like it to be and the challenge is to move it back up. Volume is the key to that.

“When profits fall, it’s only natural that dealers feel the franchise is not as good as it was, but a key benefit for us is that many have been with us through very good times and times far worse then at present and they know we always come through. We will do this again and our profitability will improve – it’s our number one priority,” he said.

Asked about the way his network viewed the electric car business, Bradley said: “The market has not been as big as predicted and this has been a disappointment. We knew the cost was going to be high and that it would squeeze our margins, but customers are not happy with electric cars because they think they are too expensive at the moment and they don’t trust their ranges.

“However, none of our dealers has felt that the electric car is not worth the investment because we’ve not asked them to make one – there’s been no requirement for them to install charging points.

“What we have asked them to do is put on demonstrators at terms hugely in excess of usual requirements - there’s actually no investment required as long as they manage to sell the cars for reasonable prices.

“No dealer has been anything other than positive about our plans for electric cars, and more especially the plug-in hybrid. They appreciate that while the electric opportunity is relatively small, the plug-in hybrid opportunity is massive and they are excited about that.

“I am absolutely convinced that better days lie ahead in the wake of this difficult patch.”