Honda, Mitsubishi Team Up on Pickup Truck
Honda plans a pickup based on the Mitsubishi Triton, scheduled for ASEAN sales in 2028.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Trucks
Honda Motor Co and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a Honda pickup based on the Mitsubishi Triton. The Honda-badged model is scheduled to go on sale in the ASEAN market in 2028.
Why it matters
The agreement is the first complementary vehicle supply arrangement between the two companies and gives Honda a pickup in a market where it currently has none. The partnership lets the companies widen their offerings using partner-developed vehicles and respond more quickly to regional demand.
The Mitsubishi Triton is a one-tonne pickup built on a ladder-frame chassis, and the Honda model will use its existing platform. Specifications, pricing and production schedule have not been announced.
The players
Honda Motor Co.
Japanese automaker that is developing a pickup truck for the ASEAN market through this agreement.
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation
Japanese automaker whose Triton pickup serves as the platform for the Honda model and whose Thailand plant is expected to see higher production volumes.
The details
The Honda pickup will be built on the existing platform of the Mitsubishi Triton, one of Mitsubishi Motors' global strategic models. The companies assessed the potential benefits for both sides before reaching the agreement.
Timeline
August 1, 2024: Honda, Mitsubishi Motors and Nissan signed the strategic partnership MoU that set up the framework.
2028: The Honda pickup is scheduled to go on sale in the ASEAN market.
Roadmap
The deal follows the August 1, 2024 strategic partnership memorandum signed by Honda, Mitsubishi Motors and Nissan, and it is the first concrete vehicle project to emerge from that framework. It shows the three automakers turning broad cooperation into shared product development in a region where Honda has no pickup.
Buyers in ASEAN markets who want a Honda pickup will need to wait until 2028 for the model's launch. Pricing and specifications have not been released, so shoppers should not expect details before the companies announce them.
The takeaway
Shared platforms let automakers add vehicles faster and at lower cost, which can benefit buyers who gain new choices. Watch for official specifications and pricing before judging how the Honda pickup will compete.
Further reading
Explore more on Trucks to see how partner-built pickups are reshaping regional lineups.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Themachinemaker.
