Mitsubishi launching global ASX-sized electric car, Australian launch unclear

Mitsubishi will launch a new small electric SUV in 2025 that will be based on Renault underpinnings and be produced by the Ampere electric vehicle (EV) spinoff company in France.

This announcement of the new Mitsubishi small electric SUV came from Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo during the company’s recent Ampere Capital Market Day event. The new, all-electric Renault Twingo was also revealed at the event.

“I can confirm that Mitsubishi will produce a C[-segment] SUV EV for the world on the AmpR Medium, of course in Douai, and of course all electric,” said Mr de Meo.

Renault Megane E-Tech Credit: CarExpert

“This is in our opinion only the beginning.”

Although Mr de Meo’s wording stipulates this new Mitsubishi electric SUV is “for the world”, it’s unclear if Australia is included in its launch plans.

A Mitsubishi Australia spokesperson said they didn’t have anything to add at this stage apart from saying there will be due diligence to determine if this could be a fit in the company’s future model line-up.

Given this forthcoming Mitsubishi electric SUV is a C-segment SUV, this means it will roughly be around the size of the Mitsubishi ASX.

Renault Scenic E-Tech Credit: CarExpert

The AmpR Medium platform is the new name for the company’s CMF-EV platform which underpins the the Nissan Ariya, as well as the Renault Megane E-Tech and Scenic E-Tech.

Renault’s production plant in Douai, France already manufactures the Megane E-Tech and Scenic E-Tech. It’s also currently being expanded in order to accomodate the forthcoming Renault 5 electric city car.

At this stage it’s unclear if this forthcoming Mitsubishi electric SUV will be a Mitsubishi-designed vehicle, or if it will be a rebadged Renault model.

Supplied Credit: CarExpert

The Japanese carmaker has been opting for the latter strategy in Europe of late with the European-market Mitsubishi ASX being a rebadged Renault Captur, and the new Mitsubishi Colt being a rebadged Renault Clio.

This new French-built Mitsubishi electric SUV appears to be the vehicle shown as part of an investor presentation earlier this year. It was listed as “Alliance – Renault” and appears to be set for production in 2025.

It also forms as one of four new all-electric models Mitsubishi plans to roll out by 2028.

Supplied Credit: CarExpert

Mitsubishi was the first carmaker to offer a mainstream EV in Australia. The i-MiEV electric hatchback launched locally in 2010, which was a year before the first Tesla was offered locally.

The Japanese carmaker hasn’t offered an EV in Australia since the i-MiEV was axed in 2014.

Mitsubishi does already offer an indirect successor to the i-MiEV, the eK X electric kei car, but it’s not sold in Australia.

Earlier this year Mitsubishi announced it plans for hybrids, plug-in hybrids and EVs to account for 50 per cent of its sales by 2030, and all its sales by 2035.

MORE: Mitsubishi will sell only hybrids and EVs by 2035