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Mitsubishi Australia can have a brand new chief in 2026 because it seems to be to capitalise on a raft of latest fashions in native showrooms, led by the brand new ASX small SUV and a extra succesful Outlander PHEV.
Shunichi Kihara has been confirmed as the brand new Chief Govt Officer of Mitsubishi Motors Australia Restricted (MMAL), efficient January 5, 2026.
Mr Kihara will come into the function after serving because the Assistant Division Basic Supervisor of the Japanese automaker’s North Asia Division, and replaces interim MMAL CEO Yoshinori Yamazaki.
The incoming CEO has additionally held world gross sales roles at Mitsubishi.
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“I’m delighted to simply accept the place of CEO at MMAL and sit up for assembly you once I arrive in Australia,” Mr Kihara stated in an announcement.
“Mitsubishi Motors has been a robust and trusted model in Australia for 45 years, and collectively we’ll construct on that legacy to drive it into the longer term.”
The change on the high comes after Shaun Westcott, who led MMAL for 5 years together with as chairman till 2024, resigned in September.
Numerous contemporary fashions will see Mr Kihara look to develop Mitsubishi’s market share right here, together with the not too long ago launched ASX – based mostly on the Renault Captur – and the up to date Outlander PHEV (plug-in hybrid electrical automobile) due on sale right here early subsequent yr.
Gross sales are down 16.3 per cent year-to-date, but Mitsubishi remains to be outperforming rivals together with sister Alliance manufacturers Renault (-16.5 per cent) and Nissan (-17.7 per cent), and Volkswagen (-19 per cent).
Mitsubishi stays a high 10 model in Australia, putting sixth in October 2025 gross sales with assist from the Triton ute, which types the idea of the brand new Nissan Navara and was its best-seller for the month.
It sits sixth general year-to-date on 52,364 gross sales, behind Hyundai (64,861) and forward of GWM (43,774) – after putting fifth for the complete yr in 2024.
Yr-to-date, the Outlander stays its hottest mannequin, and there’s a bigger battery pack coming as a part of the facelifted electrified mid-size SUV in early 2026.
In North America, Mitsubishi launched a extra rugged model of the Outlander as a rival to the Subaru Outback, which may additionally change into a part of the Australian lineup, though this has not been confirmed.
Mannequin sharing with Nissan might also see the next-generation Nissan Patrol off-road SUV bought as a Pajero to offer Mitsubishi a reliable Toyota LandCruiser 300 Collection rival.
A possible substitute for the Pajero Sport was proven on the 2025 Japanese Mobility Present in Tokyo final month, too, whereas the corporate can also be trying so as to add hybrid tech to fashions together with the ASX and Triton, and to launch its first new-generation EV, a small electrical SUV, within the second half of subsequent yr.
MORE: Discover the Mitsubishi showroom
