Mitsubishi Prepared to Abandon Nissan Platforms | Carscoops

      Mitsubishi's upcoming Outlander is expected to be built on a new, in-house platform rather than sharing its foundation with the Nissan Rogue.

      This choice indicates that Mitsubishi is seeking to separate itself from Nissan amid increasing tensions within their alliance.

      Sales of the Outlander have been lackluster in the US, prompting Mitsubishi to consider a redesign.

      Nissan's financial difficulties are not the only challenges facing the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance. Just weeks after Honda and Nissan disclosed their decision to abandon their merger plans, reports have emerged that Mitsubishi prefers the next Outlander not to utilize a platform from Nissan.

      The current Mitsubishi Outlander is based on the Nissan Rogue, which, in turn, is built on the Renault-Nissan Common Module Family platform. When the Outlander was first set to be manufactured on the CMF platform, company executives highlighted it as Mitsubishi leveraging the advantages of the alliance while preserving its distinct brand identity.

      However, it now seems that the collaboration is coming to an end after just one generation. According to Auto News, Mitsubishi is considering a modified in-house platform for the next Outlander. Although the company did not provide any official comment, this report follows Nissan's decision to sell a portion of its stake back to Mitsubishi in November for financial restructuring.

      What’s Next for Mitsubishi?

      In the US market, Mitsubishi has faced ongoing challenges with weak sales, leading to rising frustration among dealers due to the company's perceived inaction. Increasing costs, an outdated model lineup, and the discontinuation of the popular Mirage have complicated matters for the brand’s representatives.

      While the Outlander received a minor update, Mitsubishi aims to broaden the range ahead of a full redesign slated for 2027. A mild hybrid version is anticipated to be introduced alongside the internal combustion and PHEV models in the US, and a more adventurous variant known as the “Outlander Trail Edition” is expected later this year.

      It seems that Mitsubishi is keen to distance itself from Nissan. Recently, after failing to secure a partner with Honda, Nissan's CEO stated that the company's survival is uncertain. Speculation regarding the brand's future continues, with a potential collaboration with Taiwanese electronics firm Foxconn viewed as a possible avenue for the struggling company.