Tokyo/Detroit – On Tuesday, Mitsubishi Motors announced a strategic partnership with Nissan to launch a new all-electric vehicle in North America in the second half of 2026. The new model will be built on Nissan's next-generation LEAF platform, marking Mitsubishi's official entry into the competitive North American EV market.
According to the company, Mitsubishi will be responsible for manufacturing the vehicle, leveraging Nissan's advanced electrification platform. Mark Chaffin, CEO of Mitsubishi Motors North America, stated, "This model will combine Nissan's expertise in electric drivetrains with Mitsubishi's strength in SUV production, targeting young family buyers."
This initiative represents the first tangible project under Mitsubishi's "2030 U.S. Market Strategy." Internal documents reveal that the new EV will use Nissan's newly developed 72kWh battery pack, offering a targeted EPA range of up to 400 kilometers (approximately 250 miles) and supporting 150kW fast-charging. Production will begin at Mitsubishi's Illinois plant, with an initial annual capacity of 50,000 units.
While Mitsubishi has seen success with plug-in hybrids like the Outlander PHEV, its progress in the pure electric segment has lagged behind. Nissan COO Ashwani Gupta noted, "We're also exploring further collaborations, including potential expansion into markets like Australia and Southeast Asia. Shared development efforts could reduce engineering costs by around 30%."
Industry analysts see this move as part of a broader trend among legacy automakers adapting to the electric transition. According to LMC Automotive, the North American EV market is projected to reach 2.8 million units by 2026, and platform sharing could cut per-vehicle development costs by over 40%.
"Mitsubishi needs to quickly fill gaps in its EV lineup, while Nissan is looking to scale its platform footprint," said Sam Fiorani, Vice President at AutoForecast Solutions. "This kind of complementary partnership will become increasingly common over the next few years."
In response to the localization requirements under the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, the Mitsubishi-Nissan alliance is also evaluating the possibility of establishing a joint battery procurement framework in Tennessee. Further technical specifications for the new model are expected to be unveiled at the 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show.
