Mitsubishi's Getting Back in the EV Game With Nissan Leaf–Based Creation
Mitsubishi is in the midst of an ambitious product renaissance, and it's now elaborating on the first of its "new or significantly revised vehicle" models due every year or so from 2026 until 2030—and it's an all-electric, Nissan-based creation. Now, you're forgiven for not remembering Mitsubishi's first EV sold here in America, the i-MiEV. Besides its name sounding like a Russian-language virtual assistant (i-MiEV, navigate to Moscow!), it was closer to a golf cart or low-speed neighborhood vehicle than a real car.
Mitsubishi’s upcoming electric vehicle is assuredly set to materialize as a genuine production model, leveraging the platform of Nissan’s forthcoming 2026 Leaf. It’s uncommon for allied automakers—like Mitsubishi and Nissan—to so explicitly confirm a shared vehicle foundation, yet Mitsubishi has publicly stated:
“This announcement affirms Mitsubishi Motors’ collaboration with Alliance partner Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. to launch a battery electric vehicle (BEV) in the U.S. and Canadian markets. The model will utilize the next-gen Nissan Leaf’s architecture and is slated for release by summer 2026, available through dealership networks in both nations.”
Upon closer inspection of the featured image, noticeable similarities emerge between the shadowy Mitsubishi EV prototype and the forthcoming Leaf, especially in the angular headlight design and sweeping silhouette. Drawing parallels to the current Outlander—a model derived from the Nissan Rogue SUV’s platform—the Mitsubishi variant is likely to incorporate enough unique styling cues to stand apart from its Nissan counterpart visually.
While specifics about the Mitsubishi EV remain sparse, details about the next-gen Leaf are equally elusive, despite Nissan offering preliminary glimpses of the model. Anticipated features for both include a minimum 300-mile range and native NACS charging compatibility, enabling access to Tesla Superchargers. Additional announcements about the Mitsubishi electric vehicle and its Nissan sibling are expected before the year concludes.
