Mitsubishi Motors is preparing to reenter the U.S. electric vehicle market with a new model set to launch in 2026. The automaker’s move marks its first EV offering in the region since the i-MiEV, which was discontinued in 2017, and is aimed at capturing a share of the U.S. EV segment, which grew 7.3% last year.
The upcoming EV, expected to debut in the second half of 2026, will be produced in Japan. While Mitsubishi has not revealed the specifics, reports suggest the vehicle could be a compact crossover coupe, potentially drawing inspiration from Nissan’s Chill-Out concept.
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The new model is anticipated to be more practical and competitive than the i-MiEV, which struggled with limited range and high pricing during its U.S. tenure.
The EV launch comes as Mitsubishi dealers face the challenge of filling a void left by the discontinuation of the Mirage subcompact car. The Mirage, which was pulled from the lineup in late 2024, accounted for nearly 30% of the automaker’s U.S. sales last year. While remaining stock is expected to last through the summer of 2025, dealers anticipate a significant slowdown in sales in the latter half of the year.
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In response, Mitsubishi is reportedly exploring ways to make its existing lineup more appealing, including introducing lower-cost trim options for the Outlander Sport. However, bridging the price gap between the Outlander Sport and the much more affordable Mirage is likely to be a difficult task.
Source: Auto News