Mitsubishi’s next EV is based on the upcoming Nissan Leaf coming in 2026

Mitsubishi will launch a new electric vehicle in North America next summer that’s based on Nissan’s upcoming third-generation Leaf. The new EV, which will be Mitsubishi’s second-ever in the US after the pioneering i-MiEV, is part of the company’s “Momentum 2030” growth plan where it will launch “a new or significantly revised vehicle every year between 2026 and 2030.”

Mitsubishi hasn’t yet given a name to its EV or provided any other technical details, including its expected EPA-estimated range. Like the new Leaf, it will use the CMF-EV platform that also underpins the Ariya SUV and is rated for up to  304 miles on a single charge.

In a press release, Mitsubishi Motors North America CEO Mark Chaffin said the company is on an “upward trajectory,” especially in the US. Mitsubishi reported an 11 percent increase of sales year over year in Q1 2025, led by its Outlander SUV that also comes in a plug-in hybrid version. 

Chaffin says Mitsubishi’s new EV will be part of a fresh lineup that includes a blend of internal combustion, plug-in hybrids, and electric vehicles that give customers “the choice of technology that best suits their needs.”

Mitsubishi has not yet announced where the new EV will be built. The company once had a plant in Normal, Illinois, which is now owned and operated by Rivian. In order to avoid heavy tariffs imposed by the Trump administration (currently set at 25 percent on cars and trucks from Japan), Mitsubishi may need to figure out a domestic manufacturing plan soon.