Mitsubishi taps Nissan, Foxtron for EVs – Australia first in line for one of them

West Australian

07-05-2025

Mitsubishi will lean on Alliance partner Nissan and contract manufacturer Foxconn to flesh out its sparse electric vehicle (EV) lineup.
The carmaker may have been among the first to offer a mass-produced EV with the i-MiEV in 2010, but right now it sells only two – the
eK X
and Minicab kei cars – and they're not sold here.
Now, Mitsubishi has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Foxconn's EV subsidiary, Foxtron, which will see the latter supply an EV to the Japanese carmaker.
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.
This will be manufactured in Taiwan by Yulon Motor, best known for manufacturing Nissan vehicles under license, and will be introduced in Australia and New Zealand during the second half of 2026.
'This pure EV model is the latest step in our Momentum 2030 plan and offers another string to our multi-powertrain bow that will see us through to the next decade,' said Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited CEO Shaun Westcott in an announcement today.
'It will join a refreshed Mitsubishi range that already offers petrol, diesel and PHEV options that fit Australian lifestyles, all with our innovative 10/10 warranty and capped price servicing plan.
'It is also further evidence of our core market relationship with MMC, with Australia the first Mitsubishi market to receive this vehicle from launch, and signifies our ongoing strength.
'We have been here for 45 years, and with new and exciting products such as this, we are well placed for the next 45 and beyond.'
Foxtron was established in 2020 as a joint venture between Foxconn and Yulon, and currently produces the n7 for Yulon's Luxgen brand. It has, however, additionally revealed a wide variety of concept vehicles and has teased contract manufacturing deals with established carmakers.
The upcoming Mitsubishi model is expected to be
based on the Foxtron Model B
, a small hatchback/crossover measuring 4.3m long on a 2.8m wheelbase, per a report from
Automotive News
.
Styled by Pininfarina and featuring similar proportions to the
Renault Megane E-Tech
, it has a claimed driving range of more than 500km on the lenient NEDC cycle from a 60kWh battery pack.
While the Foxtron-based model is locked in for Australia, Mitsubishi's other upcoming EV – based on the next-generation
Nissan Leaf
electric SUV – isn't certain.
'At this stage we are still working through the opportunity and will have more information as plans are confirmed,' said a Mitsubishi Australia spokesperson.
The Leaf-based EV, previewed in
a teaser of upcoming North American-market launches last year
, will launch in that market during the second half of 2026.
Both the Leaf and its Mitsubishi twin will ride on the CMF-EV/AmpR Medium platform that underpins the Megane E-Tech and the
Nissan Ariya
, though Nissan has yet to reveal technical specifications.
In exchange for the Leaf, Nissan will get a rebadged version of the updated
Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid
to sell in the North American market.
Teaser images of both models have revealed little in the way of apparent cosmetic changes, indicating these will be similar to recent Mitsubishi rebadges like the
Renault Captur
-based
ASX
and
Clio
-based Colt.
Further collaboration could eventuate between Mitsubishi and Nissan.
'Mitsubishi Motors is considering expanding collaboration with its Alliance partners globally, including in the Oceania region, to strengthen the electrified vehicle lineup and accelerate efforts towards achieving carbon neutrality,' the company said in a press release.
It has already confirmed it'll launch a rebadged Renault Captur wearing the familiar ASX nameplate sometime this year in Australia, though it has yet to advise whether we'll get hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions.
In Europe, the Mitsubishi brand is also getting a rebadged Renault Symbioz with mild-hybrid and hybrid powertrains, called the
Grandis
. The electric Renault Scenic E-Tech is also set to wear the red-diamond badge.
A new Australian Design Rule (ADR) forced Mitsubishi Australia to axe the ASX,
Eclipse Cross
and
Pajero Sport
earlier this year, though it still has stock of these models.
However, the move has effectively left Mitsubishi Australia with just two models – the Outlander and
Triton
– to import, though the aforementioned new-generation ASX is due to arrive this year and a new Pajero Sport is also expected to come here.