Honda could enter the ladder-frame midsize truck market as early as 2028 with a rebadged Mitsubishi Triton, according to a report from Nikkei Asia. The planned pickup would target Southeast Asia and other markets, giving Honda a potential path into a segment dominated by traditional body-on-frame trucks without requiring the company to develop an entirely new vehicle.
Honda Reportedly Plans a Mitsubishi Triton-Based Truck
Honda currently offers just one pickup, the Ridgeline, which uses a unibody platform rather than the ladder-frame construction found in most traditional trucks. Although the Ridgeline is not primarily designed for heavy-duty hauling or demanding off-road use like body-on-frame pickups, Honda has been looking to blur the distinction between the two categories.
According to Nikkei Asia, Honda plans to introduce a rebadged version of the Mitsubishi Triton from 2028. The truck is reportedly intended for Southeast Asia and other markets, allowing Honda to expand its vehicle lineup without starting development of a completely new pickup from scratch.
The Mitsubishi Triton already has an established presence in the midsize truck segment, making it a potential foundation for Honda’s entry. By adopting Mitsubishi’s existing design, Honda could avoid the substantial costs associated with developing a new ladder-frame platform while concentrating on features that distinguish its version.
How a Triton-Based Honda Pickup Could Compete
A new pickup based on the Triton could give Honda an opportunity to compete in Southeast Asia’s midsize truck market, where the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger and Mitsubishi Triton are major names.
These trucks serve buyers looking for pickups capable of handling everyday driving as well as more demanding tasks. Entering the segment with an existing platform could help Honda control development costs and make its lineup available to a broader group of buyers.
However, key details about the reported Honda pickup remain unknown. There has been no word on its exterior design, powertrain, pricing or the name it would carry.
Honda Looks to Expand Beyond China
The reported truck plan comes as Honda seeks to strengthen its global business amid declining sales in China. Expanding its lineup in other markets could provide another growth opportunity without requiring the investment involved in developing an entirely new vehicle.
Neither Honda nor Mitsubishi has publicly confirmed the reported plan, and the companies have not provided details about the proposed truck or the markets in which it would be sold.
Honda Would Follow Nissan in Rebadging the Triton
If the reported plan moves forward, Honda would not be the first automaker to use the Mitsubishi Triton as the basis for a pickup sold under another brand. Nissan already offers the Navara in Australia and New Zealand through a similar arrangement.
Mitsubishi, meanwhile, is considering a return to the U.S. pickup market with a truck sourced from Nissan. That approach would give the company a way to reenter the segment without developing a new pickup independently.
These arrangements reflect continued cooperation among Honda, Mitsubishi and Nissan, even after their major merger plans ended in 2025. A Triton-based Honda pickup would represent a significant expansion beyond the unibody Ridgeline, potentially giving Honda an entry into the traditional ladder-frame truck market.
For now, the reported 2028 launch remains unconfirmed, with the truck’s name, specifications, pricing and final market availability still unknown.
