Groupe Renault and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation today announced a new step in their operational collaboration. In the future, Mitsubishi Motors will sell OEM models from Renault under the Mitsubishi brand for selected main markets in Europe. From 2023 Mitsubishi Motors will sell two “sister models” produced in the factories of the Groupe Renault, which are based on the same platforms, but the ones Mitsubishi brand DNA reflect.
A model mix of the newly introduced Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV and the sister models developed by Renault will enable Mitsubishi Motors to increase its own competitiveness in the market.
“Our new approach within the alliance is now becoming a reality. This great project meets the expectations of all partners from a creative, regulatory and economic point of view. That is the whole point of the alliance and we at Groupe Renault are very pleased to contribute to this new step in the history of the collaboration, ”said Luca de Meo, CEO of Groupe Renault.
That is the next chapter for the future of the brand Mitsubishi Motors in Germany written. For many Mitsubishi fans, this should be a sweet and tart message. The fans of the three diamonds probably saw the hopes for the “DNA of Mitsubishi” in vehicles from Tokyo. On the other hand, the efforts of the former managing director of Mitsubishi Motors, Kolja Rebstock, to avert the withdrawal from the European market are successful in the long term.
This will have clear consequences for the portfolio of the importer in D / A / CH.
The recently announced withdrawal of the Nissan Navara from Europe is probably due in part to Mitsubishi's “strategic positioning”. The current Mitsubishi L200s are successful pick-up models in the current expansion stage and could - in the sense of the often praised synergies - also get the Nissan label. Mitsubishi, on the other hand, will benefit from the current platform for B- and C-segment SUVs, the Renault Group has a broad portfolio here and the decision to keep the Mitsubishi brand is positive for the time being for the range of purely electric models.
