Mitsubishi Motors North America Announces New Electrified Models

The Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) lineup is suffering from oversaturation of SUVs, most of which are gasoline-powered. In today’s market, more and more brands are releasing a new battery-electric vehicle (BEV) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). All this is supposed to change with the “Momentum 2030” business plan released by MMNA back in May 2024. As usual, the automaker is known to drag its feet, and often doesn’t fulfill its promises for new concepts, many of which we saw come back for the Momentum 2030 announcement. After recent sales for the third quarter, MMNA announced new plans for the rest of the decade (2030).

Electrification

This automaker is clearly in love with the Outlander PHEV, that much we know. Still doing well overseas, this model doesn’t seem like it’s going to be replaced any time soon. One of the revived concepts, the Engelberg Tourer, was set to be its successor during its reveal at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. That idea quickly died, but with the revival of the Engelberg Tourer and other electrified concepts with Momentum 2030, we might finally see the Outlander PHEV get a replacement. At one point, the Eclipse Cross was also supposed to get an electric treatment, so the choices are there.

That might be why MMNA announced is new plan for electrification with a blend of powertrains – hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery electric. We’ve never seen a simple hybrid from Mitsubishi Motors, so that should be an interesting concept. We’re hoping for a new plug-in hybrid, and the only BEV known by Mitsubishi Motors was the short-lived iMiEV, the first highway-capable BEV in the industry. Ever since Mitsubishi Motors invested in the Ampere BEV facility, Renault has promised a new, electric midsize SUV for the automaker.

Faster Production

Like some of its competitors, Mitsubishi Motors is finally revving up its production for the next five years. According to the PR, MMNA will be releasing a new or completely refreshed vehicle to debut each year between 2026 and 2030. That seems like a pretty short time to beef up the lineup, given the automaker’s track record, but MMNA claims other segments will be introduced to its lineup with all-new models. Maybe we’ll finally get that C-D segment model Mitsubishi Motors talked about during the Alliance 2025 mid-term plans in 2020. Yeah, it’s been four years since Mitsubishi Motors was supposed to release a new model, not end them like they did with the discontinuation of the Mitsubishi Mirage. The automaker claimed this was to make room for new models.

Double Time

The Japanese automaker has also made claims to doubling its lineup to offer more variety. Finally dipping into the many resources the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance offers MMNA, Mitsubishi and Nissan are working on two new models for America, a new pickup truck and a new electrified model. We heard a bit about this in May 2024, and that was it. There has also been talk about Mitsubishi joining Nissan and Honda in a new collaboration, but it’s yet to be signed in ink.

We have until 2026 for a new model, but Mitsubishi Motors will surely release new, revived concepts between now and then. Follow along with us on Miami Lakes Automall social media for more.

Photo Source/Copyright: Mitsubishi Motors