Nissan and Mitsubishi Partner for EVs

Photo Source: NISSAN

Nissan and Mitsubishi struck a deal to develop numerous electrified vehicles specifically for the United States market to reduce development costs. Currently, Nissan does not have any plug-in hybrids on sale in the United States, and Mitsubishi does not have any all-electric vehicles. Additionally, neither companies offer a battery-powered pickup truck, but all this will change in the coming years. 

The news comes after the reported talks between Nissan and Fisker were put to rest and after Nissan announced in March 2024 that it would work in tandem with Honda to develop electric vehicle-specific technology. The initiative resulted in the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, a three-way collaboration made up of a pair of strategic partners who have worked together over two decades–the first two names in that alliance–and then a third jumping on board in recent years. Of note, the Alliance is why the Mitsubishi Outlander looks markedly like a Nissan Rogue.

Nissan and Mitsubishi Strategy

The latest development to spring forth from this union is news that Nissan and Mitsubishi are preparing to collaborate on a trio of ventures: an electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid, and a pickup truck. According to reports from experts at Automotive News, the automakers are exploring synergies for one of the first large-scale, cross-brand vehicle cooperatives between these Japanese companies to be aimed squarely at the North American market. 

Speaking on the topic, Nissan will launch its first North American plug-in hybrid based on a system engineered by Mitsubishi in the not-too-distant future. That said, the Rogue, Nissan’s most popular model in the United States, is devoid of plug-in power despite some of its prominent rivals, like the Toyota RAV4, providing the option. Since the Outlander offers a plug-in hybrid powertrain and shares similar bones with the Rogue, speculation suggests that Nissan could be mimicking Mitsubishi’s work. In turn, Mitsubishi will launch an electric vehicle utilizing Nissan’s technology.

An All-New Contender in the Compact Truck Category 

Meanwhile, Nissan and Mitsubishi will jointly develop a next-generation pickup truck. If it were to bear fruit, the project could include electric and hybrid versions with assembly happening in Mexico, permitting simple transit of finished vehicles to the United States and Latin America. Moreover, building the truck in North America allows the overseas brands to skirt the 25 percent “Chicken Tax” levied on light-body trucks manufactured outside the continent. Pooling resources in this manner would allow Nissan and Mitsubishi to expand the scale of their North American operations while helping share the burden of developing vehicles alone in the costly age of electrification.

It is worth noting that one of the few compact pickup trucks being sold in the United States is the Ford Maverick. The automobile debuted in 2021 and has been a strong seller ever since. However, the limited compact truck segment might be infused with greater diversity if the Nissan-Mitsubishi partnership produces a successful truck. Expected to arrive between 2027 and 2031, the model could also help both brands achieve emissions goals while bringing products to market that compete against similar vehicles from Ford, Rivian, Chevrolet, and Tesla. 

If you are interested in the possibilities a Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance could hold, please come visit Nissan of Fort Pierce, where you can take a look at our new vehicle inventory or our quality pre-owned vehicles.