Mitsubishi Europe Phasing Out Renault Clio-Based Small Cars in Favor of SUVs

According to foreign media reports, recently, Frank Krol, CEO of Mitsubishi Europe, stated that Mitsubishi Motors will no longer launch a successor to the current Colt small car, which is based on the Renault Clio model, as the company is refocusing its product lineup towards the SUV segment.

According to data from market analysis firm Dataforce, the Colt has been Mitsubishi's best-selling model in Europe in the first eight months of this year, with sales reaching 9,728 units. However, Mitsubishi has no plans to launch a derivative model based on the sixth-generation Renault Clio, which was unveiled at the Munich International Motor Show in early September. Frank Krol stated, "We are gradually phasing out the Colt model, focusing on vehicle categories that align with the brand's image and heritage."

Mitsubishi Colt; Image source: Mitsubishi

At the recent launch event for the electric version of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross compact SUV, Frank Krol stated, "Our customers prefer models with strong practicality."

In 2020, Mitsubishi planned to completely exit the European market but later reversed this decision. In 2023, as part of a Renault-supported strategy, Mitsubishi launched the Colt model, aiming to revamp its product lineup in Europe with locally produced models.

Currently, Mitsubishi is still selling the ASX small SUV in the European market, which is based on the Renault Captur model. This year, it has also introduced the Grandis model, which is based on the Renault Symbioz compact crossover. The Eclipse Cross launched by Mitsubishi is developed based on the Renault electric vehicle Scenic and will replace the previous plug-in hybrid model of the same name that was independently developed by Mitsubishi.

With the gradual discontinuation of the Colt, Mitsubishi will completely exit the European small car market. Earlier this year, Mitsubishi decided not to upgrade the Thailand-produced Space Star (known as the Mirage in some markets) to meet the new EU safety regulations, leading to the discontinuation of this model.

This decision will significantly increase the average selling price of Mitsubishi models. In its largest market, Germany, the starting price of the Space Star is €11,990, and the starting price of the Colt is €15,990; after the Colt is discontinued, the cheapest model that Mitsubishi will offer in the German market will be the ASX, with a starting price of €21,490.

With the previous launch of classic models such as the Shogun off-road vehicle and the Outlander mid-size SUV, Mitsubishi has a strong brand presence in the European SUV market. Additionally, drawing from its extensive rally experience, Mitsubishi has consistently equipped its sedans and station wagons with four-wheel drive systems.

Despite the supply agreement with Renault providing Mitsubishi with a rich lineup of SUV models, none of these vehicles are equipped with four-wheel drive systems. It is reported that models such as the Renault Captur, Symbioz, and Scenic do not offer four-wheel drive versions. Krol stated, "In the future, we plan to launch more models developed independently by Mitsubishi and reintroduce some currently missing features, such as the four-wheel drive system."

Currently, the Outlander independently developed by Mitsubishi is its only model equipped with a four-wheel drive system in the European market. Krol pointed out that expanding the selection of four-wheel drive models will help Mitsubishi increase its market share in Nordic and Alpine countries. He stated, "In Switzerland, four-wheel drive models account for more than 50% of the market share, and countries with heavy snowfall in winter, such as Sweden and Norway, also have a high demand for four-wheel drive models."

Mitsubishi previously stated that its goal is to increase annual sales in the European market to between 75,000 and 80,000 units. According to Dataforce, due to the discontinuation of the Space Star model, Mitsubishi's total sales in the European market from January to August this year were 33,467 units, a year-on-year decline of 24%.