Mitsubishi to roll out 16 models including nine ‘xEVs’

Japanese carmaker Mitsubishi, the third partner in the Renault-Nissan Alliance, has presented its mid-term strategy, including the rollout of sixteen new models in the next five years, of which ni.’ ‘xEVs’. For Mitsubishi, the latter means a mix of BEVs, HEVs, and PHEVs with four fully battery-electric models in the pipeline.

These four include an EV pickup truck, an SUV, and two non-disclosed models shared with its Alliance partners. In the partially electrified range, the ASX, a compact SUV, and offshoot of the Renault Captur, which was announced last year, will be available in HEV and PHEV versions. What to expect from the new Colt EV mentioned also remains obscured by clouds.

Regional strategy

Mitsubishi Motors’ regional strategy is to work slowly towards an electric future but to count for its primary revenue on further selling its ICE cars in its ‘growth’ regions like Australia and the Asian, not including China and Japan.

These are considered ‘Advanced Technology Promotion Regions’ together with Europe and Northern America. That means the latest (electric) technologies will be tested first in these ‘advanced’ markets with the help of the Alliance merely.

With a bit of help from Renault

At some point, it looked like Mitsubishi would entirely withdraw from Europe, leaving only the popular Outlander PHEV on the model list. But it was reconsidered in 2021 with the help of Renault.

From 2023 onward, it would commercialize two ‘sister vehicles’ of Renault products produced in Renault plants. The two vehicles “will be based on the same platforms, but will also be differentiated to respond to Mitsubishi’s DNA.” These two models are showing up in the new mid-term plan toward 2028.

It’s unclear whether Mitsubishally is taking a stake in Renault’s Ampère electric company, like Nissan already decided. The latter will have a stake of 15%. Nissan is going more aggressively on the path of full electrification with plans for 27 new electrified vehicles by 2030, of which 19 are fully electric.

Renault’s Ampère will be the new entity overseeing the all-electric range, while matters concerning combustion engines will reside under a branch called Horse. Moreover, Renault intends to keep only a stake of 40% in the latter.