First new Mitsubishi EV in a decade to arrive in NZ this year

Mitsubishi New Zealand will launch its first battery-electric vehicle (EV) in more than a decade before the end of 2026, with the new SUV currently undergoing extensive testing and development for Australian and New Zealand conditions.

The yet-to-be-named electric SUV will be sourced from Taiwanese automaker Foxtron, a joint venture between electronics giant Foxconn and carmaker Yulon. It will become Mitsubishi's first EV sold in New Zealand since the short-lived Mitsubishi i-MiEV, which was offered locally in the early 2010s.

While the vehicle has been developed primarily by Foxtron and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) in Japan, Mitsubishi says engineers and product specialists in Australia have played a significant role in evaluating and refining the SUV ahead of its launch across Australia and New Zealand.

Speaking to CarExpert Australia, Mitsubishi Motors Australia product strategy general manager Bruce Hampel said Foxtron conducted extensive local testing to better understand road conditions and customer expectations.

"Foxtron had a lot of focus on coming down to Australia, doing a lot of their development testing in Australia, to really make sure they understand the Australian customer and the Australian conditions," Mr Hampel said.

He said Mitsubishi Australia had also participated in joint evaluation programs with MMC and Foxtron, providing feedback on how the vehicle compared with rival EVs.

"The final evaluation test that we did really demonstrated that they had listened to our recommendations and have made significant improvements that put it into a really good position," he said.

Mr Hampel said "Australia and New Zealand are the only markets to get this vehicle from a Mitsubishi perspective".

While Foxtron already sells a related electric SUV in Taiwan, Mitsubishi says its version will feature unique styling, branding, and chassis tuning.

"It's essentially based on an existing Foxtron platform, mixed with Mitsubishi's unique branding," Mr Hampel said.

"Some styling elements, as well, will bring out the Mitsubishi-ness of the model."

According to Mitsubishi, ride and handling will be a key point of difference.

"Based on evaluation drives we've conducted versus the competitive set, the ride and handling is the big thing that sets it apart," Mr Hampel said.

"It's a very attractive vehicle, it's got competitive performance versus what is out there at the moment, but really it's the fun-to-drive element and that confidence to tackle Australian conditions that will set us apart."

Given the similarities between Australian and New Zealand roads, including coarse-chip surfaces, rural highways, and mixed driving conditions, those engineering changes are expected to benefit Kiwi buyers as well.

What can New Zealand buyers expect?

Mitsubishi has yet to release official specifications for the New Zealand-bound model, though it's expected to be closely related to the Foxtron Bria sold in Taiwan.

In Taiwan, entry-level versions use a 57.7kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery and a rear-mounted electric motor producing 171kW of power. Claimed range is up to 516km under the NEDC testing cycle.

A dual-motor all-wheel drive flagship uses the same battery pack but increases output to 299kW, with a claimed 0-100km/h time of 3.9 seconds and a reduced NEDC driving range of 466km.

Final specifications for Australia and New Zealand have yet to be confirmed, and any official range figures are expected to be measured under the stricter WLTP standard.

Why Foxtron instead of Renault or Nissan?

Mitsubishi's decision to source its new EV from Foxtron is notable given its access to models developed by alliance partners Renault and Nissan.

However, Mitsubishi says the Foxtron project offered a more compelling near-term opportunity, with the vehicle developed specifically with Australian and New Zealand customers in mind.

"We've considered all of them, we've looked at them, we've studied the business cases, but at this stage the Foxtron is the most attractive one for the near term," Mr Hampel said.

"Rather than picking up something that has been developed for a global market, this one has been more targeted for the Australian consumer."

A crucial EV for Mitsubishi

The new model arrives at an important time for Mitsubishi New Zealand.

While Mitsubishi has found success with plug-in hybrid technology through vehicles such as the Outlander PHEV and Eclipse Cross PHEV, it has lacked a dedicated battery-electric model since the i-MiEV disappeared from local showrooms.

The Foxtron-based SUV will become the brand's first modern EV for New Zealand and is expected to play a key role in gauging local demand for future fully electric Mitsubishi models.

Mitsubishi has not confirmed plans for additional EVs beyond this model, though the company says it continues to evaluate a range of powertrains, including petrol, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery-electric options.

The new EV is not the only new Mitsubishi model due to launch before the end of the year. The Outlander Sport HEV - the brand’s first conventional hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) to go on sale in New Zealand - is also due to arrive this year, along with the return of the Pajero nameplate as a Triton-based SUV.

Trademark applications in Australia suggest the new EV could wear an ASX GT-e or ASX VR-e badge, though Mitsubishi has yet to confirm a production name.

More details are expected to be revealed closer to the model's launch in late 2026.