Mitsubishi is on a roll with its Outlander SUV and is using that momentum to get back into the pickup truck segment in the U.S. To that end, it is previewing what its 2024 Triton pickup entry will look like with the XRT concept just unveiled at the 2023 Bangkok International Motor Show. Though labeled a concept, it is essentially a Triton truck. Er, minus the zebra graphics.

Where will the Mitsubishi Triton pickup be sold?

Mitsubishi plans on offering it first in Thailand and then the Asian region, thus the concept’s showing in Bangkok. Mitsubishi Motors CEO Takao Kato has already said the next generation Triton is ready to reveal, so what else could be the basis for the XRT concept? 

“The all-new Triton is going through final touch-ups in preparation for its release Kato told Carsguide. “We have performed rigorous endurance tests around the world while also incorporating the know-how gained from rally activities. With the new vehicle launches as the centerpiece, we will continue our drive toward further growth.”

Will Mitsubishi make an EV Triton pickup?

Both gas-powered and plug-in hybrid versions of the Triton have already been confirmed. There is no mention of a diesel version, which it would need for markets like Australia. 

Mitsubishi executive officer Takashi Shirakawa said an all-electric Triton pickup is still in development, but should be part of this new generation of pickups later in the decade. “We are thinking about whether hybrid, plug-in hybrid or pure electric is better. And we have those products in prototypes, and we are comparing them, but our headache is always, always cost.”

Where would the Mitsubishi pickup be produced?

Something else that is in the works, appearing much sooner, is a prototype entered in the 2023 Asia Cross Country Rally this coming August. That explains the “Team Mitsubishi Ralliart” logos sprinkled around the concept. 

A production Ralliart Triton would be the perfect pickup to slot into the high-performance Ranger Raptor segment. But a major hiccup is U.S. production. Because of the U.S. “chicken tax” on commercial vehicles, Mitsubishi would need to manufacture the Triton in the U.S. for it to be profitable. 

How likely is it to come to the U.S.?

Mitsubishi once had a manufacturing plant in Normal, Illinois, in the 1980s. It is now the home of Rivian truck production. But, as you already know, numerous foreign automakers are producing vehicles here, with more breaking ground expanding their U.S. manufacturing. 

So, while it will be a costly process, building a plant here would further establish Mitsubishi’s comeback in the U.S. it could incorporate the manufacturing of other models, helping to make its pricing more competitive across several lines. It’s a bit speculative, but with the popularity of pickups in the U.S., especially the midsize segment, it is the perfect next big step for the Japanese manufacturer.