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- Mitsubishi is planning a new Outlander for 2027 on its own platform.
- Mitsubishi distances itself from Nissan amid alliance problems.
- Falling Outlander sales prompted Mitsubishi to change plans.
Nissan's apparent financial difficulties aren't the only bad thing brewing in the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance. Just weeks after Honda and Nissan announced they were scrapping their planned merger, new information indicates that Mitsubishi doesn't want to build the next Outlander on a shared platform with Nissan.
The current generation Mitsubishi Outlander shares a similar design with the Nissan Rogue, which itself is based on the Renault-Nissan platform known as the Common Module Family. When it was first announced that the Outlander would be built on the CMF platform, executives touted it as a Mitsubishi that leverages the alliance's strengths while maintaining the brand's unique identity.
But after just one generation, it looks like the sharing is coming to an end. Auto News reported that Mitsubishi is considering using a modified in-house platform for the next Outlander. While the company declined to comment, the speculation comes months after Nissan sold part of its stake in Mitsubishi back in November in an effort to improve its balance sheet.
How is Mitsubishi doing?
Mitsubishi has been suffering from weak sales in the U.S., and dealers are increasingly frustrated by the company's apparent inaction. Rising costs, an aging lineup and the discontinuation of one of the company's most popular models, the Mirage, have made life difficult for those representing the brand.
While the Outlander has undergone a minor refresh, Mitsubishi is looking to expand the model before a full redesign sometime in 2027. A mild-hybrid option is expected to join the ICE and PHEV versions in the US, and a more adventure-oriented model called the "Outlander Trail Edition" is set to hit the market later this year.
But Mitsubishi appears to be trying to distance itself from Nissan. Recently, after the latter failed to find a way to merge with Honda, Nissan's CEO said the company's survival was hanging in the balance. Rumors about the brand's future continue to swirl, with a tie-up with Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn seen as the next possible option for the troubled company.
