In a clear signal of the growing co-operation between the manufacturers under the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, the two Japanese companies have revealed a new model-sharing deal to reinvent their electric and electrified vehicle line-ups. The swap deal is an indication that the two companies also are seeking to leverage their positions in the more competitive electric and hybrid masterminding business while avoiding redundant development activity.
More Collaboration with Member Alliances
The relationship between Nissan and Mitsubishi has been developing since Nissan bought a 34 percent stake in Mitsubishi Motors in 2016. This latest model swap is one of the most visible outcomes of their alliance approach, ensuring both make the most of the other’s strengths and eliminating duplication in investment.
With this changed relationship, the proposed agreement will make it possible for Mitsubishi to utilize the advanced technology and development capabilities which Nissan is constantly expanding in order to cope with the world s most challenging automotive market. This example shows how alliance members can transfer intellectual property and innovations yet retain separate brand images.
Mitsubishi’s Leaf-based EV The Japanese haven’t been a total EV bust.
The acquisition of the Leaf technology gives Mitsubishi a head start in making a pure electric vehicle available to consumers. The Nissan Leaf has been the front-runner in the mass-market EV category since its introduction, with an established electric drivetrain that will provide Mitsubishi a great starting point.
While details are still scarce, industry analysts believe the Mitsubishi Yes, though Mitsubishi will do more than slap its own badge on the Leaf; it’s expected to integrate Nissan drivetrain technology into products that reflect Mitsubishi’s brand character and design language. This will enable Mitsubishi to quickly add electric vehicles to its line-up while still serving something that will feel true to Mitsubishi to its customer base.
Nissan Looks to Acquire Outlander PHEV Technology
On the Nissan front, the latter will leverage Mitsubishi’s reputable Outlander PHEV technology across its product range. The Outlander PHEV has been an absolute success for Mitsubishi, especially in Europe, where it has always been one of the top-selling plug-in hybrids. The three-row model pairs a gasoline engine with two electric motors and a big battery, enabling extensive all-electric driving.
The first use of this technology in a Nissan model will be a plug-in-hybrid version of the Nissan Rogue due in 2025 as a 2026 model. The Rogue PHEV’s powertrain is expected to be heavily influenced by the one found in the Outlander PHEV that currently has a 2.4-liter gas engine and two electric motors that create a 248 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque system.
Sharing Already Begins on Platforms
The makeshift bargain is based on the automakers’ current platform sharing. The third-generation Mitsubishi Outlander, launched in 2021, is developed on the shared CMF-CD of the Nissan Rogue/X-Trail. The cars may have different exteriors and interiors, but they have common architecture and many parts.
“The latest Nissan Rogue (X-Trail the rest of the world) which came out in 2020 shares its machinery with the Mitsubishi Outlander, and yet it’s an all-new body,” automotive experts argue. The sharing also enables both companies to cut development costs, while keeping their individual brand characteristics.
Upcoming Rogue PHEV Details
The next gen Nissan Rogue PHEV will debut in 2025. Industry gossip has it that it could deliver roughly 40 electric miles, like the 2018 Outlander PHEV’s 38 miles EPA-rated. Some reports have it that Nissan is aiming for up to 70 miles of all-electric range, which would make it one of the longest-range plug-in hybrids out there, though accomplishing this will be no easy feat.
The Rogue PHEV will also be part of an expanding lineup of electrified Nissan models, which have so far included the electric Leaf as well as the upcoming electric Ariya. This will arrive as Nissan continues to roll out what it calls “The Arc,” its plan to develop seven new models in North America by early 2027 and focus more on electrification.
Further Integration Possibility
We have industry analysts waiting to see with bated breath whether the soon to arrive Rogue PHEV will be based on Outlander PHEV tech, or rather if there is slightly more to the tie-up. Some relatively recent Nissan teasers have included the rather familiar outline of the Outlander, leading many to believe that the Rogue PHEV might be more closely related to the closest thing the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has too a relative than Rogue is.
“The odd part is that the body shape and headlight signature looks more Outlander than the current Rogue,” industry observers say. Which has some wondering if the Rogue PHEV isn’t going to be just a tarted up version of the Outlander PHEV rather than a stand-alone product with common technology.
Broader Alliance Strategy
This reciprocal model is a mere one part of the wider Alliance strategy between Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi. The alliance has set up a “leader-follower” system in which one company leads the development of certain technologies or vehicles, and the others help adapt them for their own brands.
With development costs spread between several brands, the alliance hopes to bring better efficiency to market in a fast-moving car world. They use these types of partnerships so that companies can come to market with new technology faster than the normal huge investment required to start from a blank slate in developing new powertrains and platforms.
Future Electrification Plans
Outside this model exchange there are also ambitious electrification plans for both Nissan and Mitsubishi. Nissan will bring its cutting-edge e-Power hybrid system to North America in 2026, the automaker said. This is different from the standard hybrid, which uses an electric motor to move the wheels only and a petrol engine as a generator solely for recharging the battery.
Meanwhile Mitsubishi has also revised its Outlander PHEV for its global audience, with an improved model featuring a larger battery (16.0kWh) and around 20% more power. This updated Outlander PHEV is slated for European markets in the spring of 2025, followed by a North American launch.
Looking Forward
This exchange deal between Mitsubishi to Nissan model appears to be a rational solution to the dilemmas of vehicle electrification. Through joint development of common technology, both companies are expected to bring their electrified vehicle portfolios to market more effectively.
For customers, the partnership will mean broader low-emission electric and hybrid ranges for both brands. With the auto industry’s steady march towards electrification, we are likely to see more, similar partnerships and powertrain-sharing agreements like this, as car makers try to reign in enormous amounts of capital required to develop new powertrains, while struggling to remain competitive in a quickly evolving market.
If Mitsubishi’s Leaf-based EV and Nissan’s Outlander-based PHEV will click with buyers is an unknown, but this vehicle switch illustrates a nuanced strategy for making the best of each brand’s strengths within the overall alliance.