Honda has a ute-shaped hole in its portfolio, and it’s reportedly found an easy way to fill it.
Japanese news outlet Yomiuri Shimbun reports Honda will introduce a rebadged version of the Mitsubishi Triton in Southeast Asian markets as early as 2028, with expansion to other regions being considered.
While Honda already offers a dual-cab ute, the Ridgeline, this is built in the US and produced only in left-hand drive. It also differs from the majority of utes in featuring car-like unibody construction, as it’s closely related to the Pilot crossover SUV.
Introducing a traditional body-on-frame ute would give Honda a rival to the top-selling Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux, as well as a raft of other models including its Mitsubishi Triton donor vehicle and the Nissan Navara, itself a rebadged Triton.
Yomiuri Shimbun reports Honda is seeking this ute as it’s struggling in the Southeast Asian market and a ute could significantly increase its sales volumes, given the popularity of this vehicle type in the region. Mitsubishi, in turn, will be able to increase the operating rate at its Thai factory that produces the Triton and Navara.
The Japanese outlet reports Honda could also source other models from Mitsubishi, while also weighing joint development of components such as instrument displays.
It comes despite Honda and Nissan’s proposed merger falling through early last year, with Nissan’s Alliance partner Mitsubishi reportedly wanting nothing to do with the doomed tie-up.
Subsequent to that, the Nikkei newspaper, via Reuters, reported last July that Nissan has commenced discussions with Honda to supply it with vehicles produced at its under-utilised Canton plant in Mississippi, USA.
Specifically, Reuters reported Nissan would build pickup trucks for Honda at the Canton plant, pointing to a rebadged version of the American Frontier ute.
Honda had previously flagged, during aborted merger discussions, that Nissan had several “large class” vehicles it didn’t have, and was in discussions on the matter.
“So, if maybe we can exchange some of the vehicles, that would also be a benefit for us in the short term,” said Honda Motor Company director and vice president Noriya Kaihara in January 2025.
“Maybe in the future, we can co-develop those vehicles. But in the short term, if we need we can get some of the Nissan vehicles for Honda as well.”
Honda has tapped other brands for product before, when it didn’t have anything suitable of its own to sell.
For example, Honda rebadged the Isuzu TF (aka Holden Rodeo) for Thailand as the Tourmaster from 1996 to 1998.
This came during a period when Honda and Isuzu swapped numerous models. Isuzu received the first-generation Honda Odyssey people mover to sell in the US as the Oasis, plus the Domani and Accord sedans in Japan to sell as the Isuzu Gemini and Aska.
Honda, in turn, sold the Isuzu Trooper as the Honda Horizon in Japan and the Acura SLX in the US. The Isuzu Rodeo, known in Australia as the Holden Frontera, was sold as the Honda Passport across two generations in the US.
Numerous brands have collaborated on utes over the years. Currently, the Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok are close cousins, as are the Isuzu D-Max and Mazda BT-50. The previous BT-50 was based on the last Ford Ranger, while the next Amarok – at least in South America – will be based on the LDV Terron 9/MG U9 duo.
