It’s working with its Outlander SUV and using that momentum to get back into the pickup truck segment in the United States. To that end, it’s previewing what the entry of the 2024 Triton pickup will look like with the XRT concept just unveiled at the 2023 Bangkok International Motor Show. Although described as understandable, it is substantial. Eh, minus the zebra graphics.
Where will the Mitsubishi Triton pickup be sold?
Mitsubishi plans to introduce it first in Thailand and then in the Asian region, so the concept is shown in Bangkok. Mitsubishi Motors CEO Takao Kato said the next generation Triton is ready to be revealed, so what could be the basis for the XRT concept?
. “We have conducted rigorous endurance testing around the world while incorporating technical knowledge gained from rallying activities. With the launch of the new car as a central focus, we will continue to strive for further growth.”
Will Mitsubishi Pickup Make an EV Triton?
Both gas- and plug-in hybrid versions of the Triton have already been confirmed. There is no mention of a diesel version, which you will need for markets like Australia.
Mitsubishi CEO Takashi Shirakawa said the all-electric Triton is still in development, but should be part of this new generation of pickups later this decade. “We think about whether a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid, or pure electricity is better. We have these products in prototypes, and we compare them, but our headache is always the cost.”
Where will the Mitsubishi pickup be produced?
Another thing in the pipeline, which will appear much sooner, is a prototype entered in the 2023 Asia Cross Country Rally this coming August. This explains the slogans scattered around the concept.
The production Ralliart Triton would be the perfect pickup for its entry into the high-performance Ranger Raptor segment. But the main hiccup is US production. Because of the American “chicken tax” on commercial vehicles, Mitsubishi would need to manufacture in the United States in order to be profitable.
How likely is it to come to the United States?
Mitsubishi once had a manufacturing plant in Normal, Illinois, in the 1980s. It is now the home of Rivian truck production. But, as you may already know, many foreign automakers are producing cars here, with more expansion of their manufacturing in the United States.
So, while it would be an expensive operation, it would prove Mitsubishi’s comeback in the U.S. further, where it could consolidate manufacturing of other models, which would help make its pricing more competitive across several lines. It’s a bit speculative, but with the popularity of pickups in the US, especially the midsize segment, it’s the perfect next big step for the Japanese manufacturer.
