Mitsubishi’s EV Partner Reveals A 359-Mile SUV As The Brand Plays EV Catch-Up

An EV Ally Steps Forward

While fellow Japanese marques Toyota and Honda already have entries in the electric vehicle market with the bZ and Prologue, respectively, Mitsubishi has yet to launch one in the modern EV era, but the automaker has plans in motion. In overseas markets, Mitsubishi has partnered with Foxtron, a Taiwanese automotive company backed by iPhone manufacturer Foxconn, to develop EVs. While Foxtron's first Mitsubishi-developed EV has yet to launch, the company has already revealed its own second all-electric SUV, called the Cavira.

The Cavira follows the smaller Bria and competes in the same segment as the world’s best-selling EV, the Tesla Model Y. It features smooth, rounded body surfaces and a coupe-like roofline that flows into the rear hatch, likely for aerodynamic efficiency and improved range. That design contrasts with the sharper, more angular styling of rivals such as the Kia EV6 and Subaru Solterra.

What's Under The Sheetmetal

Specs-wise, the Cavira is available in two trims: the Emerge and the Pioneer. Both use an 82.7-kWh lithium-ion battery, with the Emerge featuring a rear-wheel-drive setup producing 249 horsepower and offering a WLTC-estimated range of 578 km, or 359 miles. The Pioneer, meanwhile, adds all-wheel drive, boosting output to 468 horsepower and enabling a 0–100 km/h sprint in 3.8 seconds. However, the extra performance reduces the estimated range to 538 km, or 334 miles.

This Foxtron-badged EV is unlikely to arrive in the U.S. Mitsubishi’s electrification efforts have largely centered on the Outlander PHEV, a pioneer in plug-in hybrid technology and once a global top seller in the segment before Chinese rivals challenged that standing.

A New Chapter Begins

What is coming to the U.S. instead is an all-electric crossover based on the next-generation Nissan Leaf. It is part of the automaker’s long-term Momentum 2030 plan, which also includes modernizing its retail sales model and expanding its dealer network. Details remain limited, but given the Leaf’s relatively affordable positioning, the upcoming Mitsubishi model could also target value-conscious EV buyers.

The Leaf-based Mitsubishi EV is expected to arrive in summer 2026. With Nissan supporting the brand’s North American EV plans and Foxtron developing an EV for Australia and New Zealand, the two partnerships reflect Mitsubishi’s broader strategy of leveraging outside expertise rather than relying solely on in-house development to strengthen its global EV lineup.

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