Mitsubishi will deliver its first electric vehicle to the U.S. in 2026, the automaker told dealers at the brand’s make meeting on Jan. 26.

The new Japan-made model will arrive in the U.S. alongside a lifted Outlander variant in the second half of next year.

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Mitsubishi executives did not reveal details of the new EV at the meeting, but a source told Automotive News the model is expected to be a small crossover-coupe-styled vehicle similar to the planned Nissan Leaf replacement.

The Nissan model, expected to arrive in late 2025, rides on the same CMF-EV platform as the Nissan Ariya compact crossover. The new EV was teased in the Chill-Out concept.

RC Hill, chairman of the Mitsubishi National Advisory Board, said while dealers would “embrace” the EV, it won’t make up for the loss of the Mirage this year.

“It’s probably a solution to the OEM problem, but not a solution to move volume,” he said. “It’s going to be hard to make up for Mirage in volume with [the EV].”

Mitsubishi ended production of the Mirage hatchback and sedan in December. Dealers are expected to have supply through late summer.

“We’ve got a little more runway than we thought with the Mirage,” Hill said.

The Mirage, Mitsubishi’s second-best seller in the U.S. last year, accounted for 28 percent of the brand’s total sales.

2025 priorities

Dealer profitability and throughput were a key discussion point.

“There was urgency in the meeting from dealers and executives to move our volume up,” Hill said.

To help offset the loss of Mirage sales, Mitsubishi is considering dropping the price of the Outlander Sport compact crossover and delivering a lower-priced trim.

According to retailers at the meeting, executives acknowledged they had more work to do on boosting dealer return on sales and said they are working on programs to bridge retailers until new product arrives over the next few years.

Improving dealer profitability “is our No. 1 priority," Mitsubishi Motors North America CEO Mark Chaffin told Automotive News following the meeting.

“Mitsubishi is working hard to deliver on our plans for new models [and] deliver on our balanced powertrain approach that meets our customer needs,” Chaffin said.

The automaker is also reviewing its “financial rewards programs to help [dealers] reach for more [sales] and increase their profitability,” he said.

Brand buzz

As Mitsubishi gears up for a product portfolio makeover with plans to launch a new or updated vehicle each year from fiscal 2026 through 2030, the brand is drawing looks.

“Dealers are calling and inquiring about the Mitsubishi Motors franchise,” Chaffin said. “Our hotlines are ringing like never before. We are getting noticed by dealer groups both large and small that are looking to add Mitsubishi to the portfolio.”