Mitsubishi CEO states the firm cannot fund large-scale EV projects alone.
Collaboration will replace standalone development efforts.
Foxconn will produce an additional EV model for the brand.

Building an all-new vehicle demands major capital outlays that Mitsubishi simply does not possess. The latest example appears in the Eclipse Sportback, which is little more than a rebadged Nissan Leaf electric vehicle.

During the June 18 shareholder meeting, CEO Takao Kato addressed the decision directly. He observed that global EV demand growth has slowed and explained that the company will rely on joint projects to meet market needs.

The reality is that EV growth has been slowing down globally. For now, our approach is to address this through collaboration.

Kato noted that developing a dedicated EV platform would require enormous spending. Should sales fall short of expectations, the resulting losses could create serious challenges for company leadership.

2027 Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback

Photo by: Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi Is Not Alone in This Approach

Honda recently canceled its planned 0 Series EVs before launch and recorded nearly 16 billion dollars in related restructuring expenses. Such costs would prove far more damaging to Mitsubishi, which delivered 883,828 vehicles in 2025 against Honda's 3,396,057 units.

Later this year Mitsubishi will reveal another EV assembled by Foxconn in Taiwan. The model is expected to reach markets including Japan and Australia but will likely skip the United States. The brand already offers an EV wearing the Eclipse Cross badge, itself a rebadged Renault Scenic E-Tech.

Although Mitsubishi introduced one of the earliest modern EVs in 2009 with the i-MiEV, no second generation followed and several small domestic EVs never reached North America. The company has instead depended on the Rogue-based Outlander and its plug-in hybrid variant, which recently appeared in a Nissan-derived Rogue PHEV version.

Motor1's Take: While rebadged models may lack the appeal of fresh designs, they allow Mitsubishi to enter the EV segment without enormous upfront costs. The Eclipse Sportback also provides buyers with another affordable electric option in a segment that still offers limited choices, making the addition worthwhile even if the vehicle shares its roots with another brand.