From wild rumor to official confirmation in just a few weeks, Honda is getting a proper pickup truck. As media reports have speculated, Mitsubishi will do most of the heavy lifting. The two Japanese automakers have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a Honda-badged model based on the Triton, with sales scheduled to begin in 2028. Okay, maybe “develop” isn't entirely accurate, given it’ll likely be a badge-engineering effort.

The agreement marks the first complementary vehicle-supply initiative between the two companies. It also gives Honda a quick way to enter a segment where it currently has no pickup offerings in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. At the same time, Mitsubishi stands to benefit from increased production at its Thai factory.

Honda hasn’t revealed the new truck’s name or shown what it will look like. For now, the company says the pickup will be based on the Triton, a one-ton truck built around a rugged ladder frame and sold in some markets as the L200. Whether it’ll be a simple rebadging exercise or feature distinctive styling remains unclear, but we’re leaning toward the former, as it would make the most sense for keeping costs low and speeding up the process.

Mitsubishi offers a natural starting point for markets where pickups need to handle tough roads, demanding work, and more than the occasional trip to the mall. Developing a new body-on-frame truck from scratch, separate from the unibody Ridgeline sold in North America, would take considerable time and money.

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