Ampere, the newly established electric vehicle (EV) division of the Renault Group, is gearing up to manufacture a compact electric SUV for its alliance partner Mitsubishi at the Douai plant in France. While specific details remain scarce, Renault CEO Luca de Meo confirmed that the new model, based on the Group’s CMF-EV platform for compact vehicles, will be known as AmpR Medium. The market launch is slated for 2025.
De Meo stated, “I can confirm that Mitsubishi will produce a C-SUV EV for the world on the AmpR Medium platform, of course in Douai, and of course all electric.” However, whether the vehicle will feature a design by Mitsubishi or if it will be a Renault-branded model under the Japanese company’s name is yet to be clarified. The historical precedent of the Mitsubishi ASX, available as a plug-in hybrid, which shared design elements with the Renault Captur, raises questions about the potential collaboration’s specifics.
Renault is currently in the process of manufacturing the Mégane E-Tech Electric compact model, also based on the AmpR Medium platform. Additionally, a crossover bearing the familiar Scénic model name is set to be launched in 2024.
Mitsubishi Motors Europe disclosed that more details about the compact electric SUV are expected to be revealed in 2024, offering a comprehensive overview of the collaborative venture. Mitsubishi’s recent announcement in March outlined its commitment to introducing four all-electric models by 2028, including a pickup truck, an SUV, and two models developed within the alliance with Renault and Nissan. As part of this collaboration, Mitsubishi is set to invest up to 200 million euros in Renault’s electric car division, Ampere.
Notably, Mitsubishi had previously hinted at an electric Colt model based on the AmpR Small (formerly CMF-BEV) platform, shared with the Renault 5 and the Nissan Micra successor. However, the recent introduction of a new Mitsubishi Colt, essentially a Renault Clio with redesigned branding, raises speculation about the potential release of an electric Mitsubishi Colt leveraging shared components. The intricate dynamics within the alliance continue to unfold as the industry anticipates further developments.
