Mitsubishi’s “preferred” plan is to return to the UK as part of a broader strategy to rebuild its business in Europe, its European boss has told Autocar.
The Japanese brand left the UK in 2020 amid the Covid-led sales collapse that forced a fundamental rethink across its global markets, including Europe.
However, Mitsubishi has since returned to most of its former European markets with the aid of new models sourced from Alliance partner Renault.
Mitsubishi would like to include the UK in that plan, said Frank Krol: “If you look at the potential and size of the market, it’s our preferred route to go back, basically. But we need to have the right product line-up for that.”
Last year, Mitsubishi launched rebadged versions of the Renault Clio supermini and Renault Captur small crossover, named Colt and ASX.
And earlier this year, it began European sales of the self-developed Outlander plug-in hybrid SUV, a replacement for the model that topped the UK PHEV charts for so long.
It will further expand its range with the Grandis compact SUV, a version of the Renault Symbioz being revealed on 1 July, and in the autumn with a new electric SUV built by Renault on the same CMF-EV platform that underpins the Renault Scenic and Nissan Ariya, expected to be called Eclipse Cross.
Mitsubishi is currently winding down sales of the current Eclipse Cross and budget Space Star (Mirage) small car – both of which were sold in the UK – because they don’t comply with the EU’s new General Safety Regulations 2 legislation.
Mitsubishi’s preferred models for a UK market return include the forthcoming Scenic sibling and potentially a new Outlander PHEV, Krol said.
Both models would better showcase the values of the brand than the Colt and ASX, which have helped Mitsubishi re-establish itself amid changing regulations but are little differentiated from their donor Renault models.
Krol gave no timing for the launch of a new Outlander, but the current model was launched in 2021 globally, suggesting a refresh is due around 2027.
Mitsubishi is still a recognised brand in the UK, but it will have to move fairly quick to capitalise on that advantage.
“It is not preferred to have extremely a long period without any sales presence,” Krol said. “That’s something we would need to consider.”