Car giant axes Aussie favourites

A massive move from one of the world’s biggest car makers to pull its very popular models from the Aussie market is sure to upset fans and give rivals a big leg up.

Mitsubishi’s car range is soon to be cut in half as production stops on three of its top-selling models.

Due to updated Australian Design Rules (ADR) requiring updated auto emergency braking systems taking effect on March 1, production of its ASX, Eclipse Cross and Pajero Sport SUVs have already ended.

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Mitsubishi has cut the ASX from its local range. Photo: Supplied

That would, for now, leave only the brand’s Outlander SUV and Triton ute still being built for the Australian market.

Mitsubishi was Australia’s fifth best-selling brand in 2024, and a reduced product line threatens its high placing.

A Mitsubishi Australia spokesman said dealers had “ensured each model line will be ordered in sufficient quantities ahead of time,” in the hope there’d be minimal gaps until new models arrived.

A new-generation Mitsubishi’s ASX small SUV has been confirmed to arrive in 2025, but no specific date’s been given.

The ASX in its current guise has been on sale for almost 15 years, making it one of the oldest vehicles still sold in Australia.

The new ASX is not a model designed and built exclusively by Mitsubishi, rather a rebranded version of the new generation Renault Captur on sale in Europe. Both brands are part of the giant Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi strategic alliance.

Today, Renault Australia confirmed this new Captur would go on sale here in the second half of 2025.

Far more advanced than our current ASX, it’s available overseas in mild hybrid and full hybrid forms, the latter offering an impressive 4.7L/100km.

But the new car would doubtless bring a big leap in price over the current ASX’s $24,490 entry point, one of the cheapest SUVs available in Australia.

Addressing the car models that have ceased production, the Mitsubishi spokesman said the new ADR rules related to the older vehicles’ autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems.

This lifesaving safety technology automatically slams on a car’s brakes if it detects a collision is imminent. The older AEB technology doesn’t operate within the new rules’ parameters.

Any models that land in Australia and receive compliance before March 1 can still be sold by Mitsubishi Australia.

“Given the life cycles of these (older) models and the new models we have coming through, it was decided to end their production and start focusing on the future,” the spokesman said.

The Triton ute remains on sale. Photo: Mark Bean

This year the Japanese brand’s two best-selling vehicles – the Outlander and Triton – will be given significant upgrades, but the picture is murkier around replacements for Mitsubishi’s Eclipse Cross and Pajero Sport. Australians buy thousands of these vehicles each year.

A new Pajero Sport should arrive in 2026, based on the Triton model that arrived in 2024. An as-yet unknown model should replace the Eclipse Cross in the highly competitive small SUV class.

“We can’t confirm any future product lines, but there’ll be up to eight new electrified models that will comes to Australia by decade’s end,” said the spokesman.

Addressing the potential for cars selling out and slim pickings in Mitsubishi showrooms, the spokesman said: “We do forecasting based on existing demand to ensure any potential impact is minimised.”

Originally published as Car giant axes Aussie favourites