Mitsubishi to Launch Electric Vehicle Based on Nissan Leaf in Second Half of 2026

【PCauto】Mitsubishi Motors has announced plans to introduce a new electric vehicle (EV) based on the Nissan Leaf, with sales expected to commence in the second half of 2026.

Mitsubishi was an early entrant into the electric vehicle market, launching the iMiEV hatchback in 2012. However, the vehicle was underwhelming in performance, offering only 62 miles of range, a top speed of 80 mph, and taking 13 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph. Market response was lukewarm.

In 2021, Mitsubishi launched the AIRTREK in China, based on GAC's Aion V, but it also received a tepid market reaction.

Now, Mitsubishi aims to enhance its position in the EV market through a collaboration with Nissan, hoping to produce a vehicle with superior performance.

Nissan also plans to launch the next-generation Leaf in 2026, which will transition from a hatchback to a compact SUV— a body style that is more favored by consumers.

Nissan has stated that the new Leaf will have a range of over 480 kilometers (approximately 298 miles), without all-wheel drive but to utilize a single-motor front-wheel-drive configuration. The current Nissan Leaf has fallen behind competitors, offering a range of less than 314 kilometers (about 195 miles), making it less competitive in the market.

Mitsubishi’s new electric vehicle is expected to share the same powertrain with the Nissan Leaf, suggesting similar performance, likely positioned as a compact crossover. Nissan has confirmed that the 2026 Leaf will be equipped with the NACS charging interface, enabling compatibility with Tesla's Supercharger network for more convenient charging. It is highly likely that Mitsubishi's new electric vehicle will include this feature, enhancing its market competitiveness.

Mitsubishi has not disclosed further details about this new electric vehicle, only confirming that it will be available in the North American market in the second half of 2026. As for the model name, Mitsubishi has recently registered names like Lancer and Colt in the United States, suggesting these could be potential candidates for this upcoming vehicle.

This collaboration is a win-win for both Mitsubishi and Nissan. In addition to developing a new car based on the Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi will also provide its mature plug-in hybrid technology to Nissan.

Since Mitsubishi has successfully refined this technology with its Outlander plug-in hybrid model, Nissan plans to utilize this technology in its 2026 models, which will be an updated version of the X-Trail. Both the X-Trail and Outlander share similar platform structures.