Honda's First Ladder-Frame Pickup Will Be a Rebadged Triton

According to Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun, the still-unnamed model will be assembled at Mitsubishi's Thai plants and retailed through Honda's existing dealers. A debut is expected in 2028 or later. A Southeast Asian rollout comes first, with other export markets reportedly under consideration.

The arrangement lets Honda step into the rugged utility segment while avoiding the capital and engineering costs of developing a ladder-frame platform in-house. The Ridgeline sold in North America is built on the Pilot SUV's unibody architecture, leaving Honda without a traditional body-on-frame truck. The Triton underpinnings also support the Nissan Navara.

In ASEAN markets, where midsize pickups are among the most popular body styles, the Honda will line up against the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max, Nissan Navara, Chinese entrants, and the Triton it shares its bones with. Nissan already sells a Triton-based Navara in Australia, giving it distinct exterior styling and a reworked suspension setup. Adding a Honda-badged model at Mitsubishi's Laem Chabang factory in Thailand gives Mitsubishi further economies of scale across the production line.

The extent of Honda's modifications is not known, though the truck is expected to adopt Honda's own styling language over the shared platform. Given its launch timing, the truck will most likely draw on the facelifted Triton, which could introduce a hybrid powertrain option shared with the related Pajero.

The current Triton uses a 2.4-liter diesel producing 148 hp (110 kW / 150 PS) and 181 hp (135 kW / 184 PS) with a single turbocharger. A twin-turbo version lifts output to 201 hp (150 kW / 204 PS). Depending on configuration, drive reaches the rear or all four wheels, and flagship trims run the Super Select 4WD-II system.

The pickup is one strand of broader cooperation. Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi are discussing shared ECUs for hybrids and EVs and standardized software, while Honda and Mitsubishi explore more badge-sharing and jointly developed digital cockpits.

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