Honda is reportedly preparing to add a proper pickup truck to its global lineup, but there's a twist: Mitsubishi will do most of the heavy lifting. According to a report from one of Japan's oldest newspapers, Honda plans to source the Mitsubishi Triton and sell it under its own badge, with the first deliveries expected in 2028.

If the Yomiuri Shimbun report proves accurate, the deal would mark the first major outcome of ongoing cooperation talks between the two Japanese automakers. Honda apparently intends to launch the rebadged pickup in Southeast Asia before potentially expanding to other markets. For now, neither company has officially announced the agreement, and details about the Honda version remain under wraps.

Also sold as the L200, the Triton is a sensible choice for Honda, as Mitsubishi's truck uses a rugged ladder-frame chassis designed to handle demanding conditions. That makes it a natural fit for markets where pickups serve as workhorses rather than lifestyle accessories. Borrowing an established model would also save Honda considerable time and expense compared with developing a dedicated truck from the ground up.

Honda sells the Ridgeline in North America, but it's a different kind of truck. Unlike the Triton, the Ridgeline uses unibody construction shared with passenger vehicles, prioritizing comfort and everyday usability over the traditional body-on-frame formula. A third generation is on the way, but it's unlikely to switch to a ladder frame.

A Mitsubishi-based pickup would let Honda enter an entirely different corner of the market with minimal engineering effort.

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