Revving Up Change — Mitsubishi's Foxconn-Built EV

The Partnership

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation announced that its first mass-market electric vehicle for the Australian market—the ASX VR-e—will be produced entirely in Taiwan by contract manufacturer Foxconn. Set to arrive in Australian showrooms during Q4 2026, this marks a fundamental transformation in how automakers approach product development and global supply chains./p>

From iPhone Maker to Auto Manufacturer

The partnership between Mitsubishi and Foxconn’s automotive division, Foxtron, emerged from strategic discussions initiated in early 2025. Unlike traditional contract manufacturing, Foxtron operates full-scale integrated assembly facilities capable of producing upwards of 100,000 units annually across multiple vehicle lines.

Australian Market Context

Australia’s electric vehicle adoption rate has historically lagged behind comparable developed economies. Battery-electric vehicle registrations constituted 4.2% of total new vehicle sales during the first half of 2026, according to EV adoption tracking data. For EV manufacturing context see Karmactive’s Tesla Plaid variants and sodium-ion battery EV coverage.

Competitive Landscape

Positioned against MG4 Electric ($36,990 AUD), BYD Dolphin (under $40,000 AUD), and Hyundai Kona Electric, the ASX VR-e enters territory historically occupied by similarly sized internal combustion engine counterparts—namely Nissan Qashqai and Mazda CX-5.

What’s Next

If successful, Mitsubishi’s experiment could catalyze entirely new category leaders combining Japanese quality assurance traditions with Chinese manufacturing dynamism—transforming the automotive industry landscape.

Source: Foxtron/Mitsubishi. Related: Tesla Plaid; sodium-ion EV.