Mitsubishi Motors Australia will launch the fully electric ASX VR-e in the fourth quarter of 2026, giving the brand a new compact electric SUV at a time when its local sales are under pressure.

The new model is based on the Taiwanese-designed and built Foxtron Bria and uses a Pininfarina-designed vehicle platform, with Mitsubishi-specific exterior, wheel and interior trim changes.

It will arrive as the first Mitsubishi battery-electric vehicle sold in Australia since the i-MiEV, which the company describes as Australia’s first mass-produced electric vehicle.

The ASX VR-e will be offered locally in four variants: LS, ASPIRE, EXCEED and GSR.

Mitsubishi has also retained the ASX name, short for Active Sports Crossover, while the VR-e badge references the Galant VR-4 performance sedan.

The launch comes during a challenging period for Mitsubishi in Australia.

In July 2026, Mitsubishi delivered 3062 vehicles, down 38.6 per cent year-on-year, placing it 12th in the brand rankings behind Toyota, BYD, Kia, Mazda, Ford, Hyundai, Tesla, Chery, GWM, MG and Geely.

Battery-electric vehicle sales reached 4921 deliveries for the month, accounting for 5.6 per cent of the market.

CarSauce has previously covered the broader shift in Australian new-car demand through recent VFACTS sales results, where Chinese and electric-focused brands continued to gain ground.

Mitsubishi says the ASX VR-e has undergone local testing and tuning by global and regional teams, with the company pointing to Australian road use as part of its development focus.

Exterior aero features include an S-Duct designed to channel airflow from the centre of the front bumper over the bonnet, as well as active grille shutters that reduce drag depending on driving conditions.

“ASX VR-e marks a significant milestone in our refreshed Mitsubishi range as the first BEV since the i-MiEV - Australia’s first mass-produced electric vehicle,” said Shunichi Kihara, CEO, Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited.

“The new Mitsubishi ASX VR-e continues this path of innovation with an immersive infotainment system, bold design and excellent electric driving performance.

“It joins an evolving multi-powertrain vehicle lineup designed and tuned with Australian lifestyles in mind as part of our Momentum 2030 plan - which will see the electrification of new models in the years to come.”

The ASX VR-e will sit within a broader Mitsubishi renewal program that also includes electrified models and the returning Pajero, which CarSauce has previously reported is due back in Australia before the end of 2026.

Mitsubishi has not yet detailed Australian pricing, battery capacity, driving range, charging capability or standard equipment for the ASX VR-e.

Those details are expected to determine how directly the new electric SUV can challenge newer EV entrants and whether it can help Mitsubishi regain momentum in a market increasingly shaped by price-led Chinese brands and electrified powertrains.

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