Mitsubishi is preparing a major expansion of its U.S. vehicle lineup, and the plans include a return to the pickup truck market through a partnership with Nissan. The move is part of the automaker’s broader effort to rebuild its presence in North America after years of shrinking sales and a reduced model range.
The strategy, which Mitsubishi calls Momentum 2030, calls for new products, entry into additional vehicle segments, more dealerships, and a wider mix of electrified models. The company says its U.S. lineup will grow to six vehicles in 2027, up from four today.
New Models Coming in 2026 and 2027
The first major addition is the all-electric Eclipse Sportback, scheduled to arrive this fall. That will be followed in the first quarter of 2027 by a new off-road-oriented version of the Outlander SUV.
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After that, Mitsubishi will launch a pickup truck, relying on its partnership with Nissan for the platform. The automaker hasn’t released specifications, timing, or even the truck’s class, but the arrangement could offer a relatively cost-effective way to enter one of America’s most competitive vehicle categories. Mitsubishi has sold the Triton pickup globally for years, but the last time it offered a truck in the U.S. was the 2009 model year, when it sold a version of the Dodge Dakota.
Off-Road Push and the Pajero Question
Mitsubishi is also leaning harder into the adventure and off-road market. In addition to the rugged Outlander, the company recently confirmed the return of the Pajero, known in the U.S. historically as the Montero. No decision has been made about bringing the revived model to America, though the automaker says a return has been under consideration.
For a brand that has struggled to stay relevant in the U.S., the pickup is the most consequential bet. Trucks are a massive slice of the American market, and the Nissan partnership gives Mitsubishi a proven platform without the cost of building one from scratch. The real question is whether buyers will give the brand a second look — and whether the truck’s pricing and capability can compete with established players like the Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma, and Chevrolet Colorado.
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By 2027, Mitsubishi expects its lineup to consist of the Outlander Sport, Eclipse Cross, Eclipse Sportback EV, Outlander, Outlander Plug-in Hybrid, and the unnamed rugged Outlander. That’s a fuller showroom than the company has had in years, but the bigger test will be how positively the U.S. buying public responds to the newer products.
“When we launched Momentum 2030, many questioned whether such an ambitious vision could be achieved,” Mitsubishi Motors North America CEO Mark Chaffin said. “Today, that vision is taking shape.”
The pickup, the Pajero decision, and the reception of the Eclipse Sportback will all factor into whether this expansion holds up. Mitsubishi has been here before — it had a strong U.S. presence in the 1990s and early 2000s, then watched it fade. The company now has a plan and a partner, but the market will have the final say.
