Mitsubishi’s Pajero SUV to Make Comeback after 7 Years

Tokyo, May 29 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Mitsubishi Motors Corp. said Friday that it will release a new model of its Pajero SUV in fiscal 2026 after domestic production ended in 2019. The automaker will unveil the new model this autumn. It also outlined a medium- and long-term vision through the 2030s, disclosing plans to expand cooperation with Nissan Motor Co. Mitsubishi’s Pajero was first launched in 1982 and sold more than 3.25 million units in Japan and overseas, but production for the domestic market ended in 2019 and for overseas markets in 2021. The new model aims to meet fan demand for the Pajero’s revival and will serve as a flagship model to strengthen the brand. Meanwhile, in partnership with Nissan, Mitsubishi will utilize Nissan’s plants in North America to enter the pickup truck market and develop electric minivehicles in Japan. The company is also considering collaboration with Honda Motor Co. In its medium- to long-term vision, Mitsubishi said that it will focus management resources on products for Southeast Asia, its priority market, and off-road vehicles such as SUVs. By fiscal 2031, Mitsubishi will launch 13 models, including five to be developed in cooperation with other companies. Mitsubishi plans to cut costs and improve productivity to raise operating profit to 160 billion yen in fiscal 2029. “We’ll focus on areas where the company can best leverage its strengths and improve corporate value,” Mitsubishi President and CEO Takao Kato said at a press conference. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]