Taipei: Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand (MMNZ) announced plans to introduce a new battery electric vehicle (BEV) in the fourth quarter of the year, co-developed with Taiwan's Foxtron Vehicle Technologies Co. The new model, named the ASX VR-e BEV, was developed in collaboration with Italian design house Pininfarina and Taiwanese EV manufacturer Foxtron, a joint venture between Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. and Yulon Motor Co.

According to Focus Taiwan, the ASX VR-e BEV will benefit from MMNZ's local expertise and reflects Mitsubishi's long-term commitment to supporting the transition from conventionally powered vehicles in New Zealand. Foxtron's earlier announcement in June 2025 detailed an agreement with Mitsubishi Motors to develop EVs with the aim of supplying right-hand-drive vehicles for the New Zealand and Australian markets.

Mitsubishi Motors previously emphasized that the partnership with Foxtron would facilitate the production of the jointly developed EVs at Yulon Motor's plant in Sanyi Township, Miaoli County. Yulon highlighted that its long-standing partnership with Mitsubishi Motors was instrumental in Foxtron securing the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) agreement.

An industry source revealed that the ASX VR-e model is being manufactured at Yulon Motor's Sanyi plant, based on Foxtron's Model B platform. It was noted that parts of the interior were developed by Hon Hai, which is also known as Foxconn and has been actively expanding into the EV market. Hon Hai leads the Mobility in Harmony (MIH) Consortium, an EV open platform initiated in 2021 as part of its strategy to become a major player in the electric vehicle industry.