Mitsubishi, Foxtron sign EV deal for Australia and New Zealand

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Taiwanese electric vehicle manufacturer Foxtron Vehicle Technologies to supply a new model for the Oceania market from 2026.

The vehicle, to be developed by Foxtron and manufactured in Taiwan by Yulon Motor, will be introduced as an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) model under the Mitsubishi badge. It will be sold in Australia and New Zealand in the second half of 2026 and will form part of Mitsubishi’s long-term product plan for the region through to 2030.

The new model is expected to offer strong EV performance and advanced infotainment features, with Mitsubishi targeting the platform specifically for local driving preferences in the region.

“Mitsubishi Motors and Foxtron will proceed with discussions towards a definitive agreement,” the company said in a statement.

The deal marks a further step in Mitsubishi Motors’ global electrification strategy. The carmaker is rolling out hybrid and plug-in hybrid models across multiple regions, including upgrades to its Outlander PHEV and new hybrid EV versions of its Xpander and Xforce SUVs in Southeast Asia.

The company says its approach to electrification includes leveraging its alliance with Renault and Nissan. Mitsubishi is already sourcing OEM electric models from Renault in Europe and Nissan in North America and is considering similar arrangements with alliance partners in other regions, including Australia and NZ.

Mitsubishi Motors, headquartered in Tokyo, employs about 28,000 people globally and maintains production facilities across Japan and Southeast Asia. The company was an early mover in the EV space, having launched the world’s first mass-produced electric vehicle, the i-MiEV, in 2009, followed by the Outlander PHEV in 2013 — the world’s first plug-in hybrid SUV.

With a goal of achieving 100% electrified vehicle sales by 2035, Mitsubishi says it will “deliver models that embody Mitsubishi Motors-ness and contribute to the realisation of a carbon-neutral society”.