Mitsubishi will remain active in Europe, developing and selling vehicles supplied by Renault. Two related models will be produced in Renault’s European plants, built on the same platform but with differentiations reflecting Mitsubishi brand values.
However, while the supply of new badge-engineered models will secure the brands future for a while longer, after its announcement to withdraw from Europe, the UK is not part of these plans and will see the brand disappear as a seller before the end of the year.
By partnering with Renault, already part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, Mitsubishi gains access to models already meeting EU regulatory standards, making the development of a Mitsubishi branded version a quick and relatively cheap option. It’s expected that this will initially be made up of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV and Renault-developed sister models.
However, the move also ensures that Renault continues to keep its factories running and avoids the need for any extra redundancies. Pressure has been mounting on Renault from its largest shareholder, the French government, to secure jobs for its local workers.
“Mitsubishi Motors welcomes Renault’s OEM models for the European market, and ultimately new customers,” commented said Takao Kato, CEO of Mitsubishi Motors. “Mitsubishi Motors has been implementing structural reforms in Europe and our decision to freeze new car development for the European Market, announced in July 2020 in our mid-term business plans, remains. However, the OEM supply agreement will provide us with a solution to offer new products developed and manufactured in Europe– alongside our ongoing after-sales business.”
The door is firmly shut on UK buyers benefitting from the deal, as these new models will be available in left-hand-drive versions only, and will not be destined to cross the English Channel. Mitsubishi is progressing with its plans to sell its existing range of vehicles in the UK until the autumn, at which point it will transition into an aftersales-only business looking after the 400,000 Mitsubishi vehicles on UK roads.
Following the collapse of rescue talks with the UK importers of SsangYong models, a significant number of dealers have already exited the brand, with more to follow. Isuzu and SsangYong are aggressively courting dealers in order to build their own networks.
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