Automaker allocates AU$685 million to transform Thailand into a key production and export hub for electrified vehicles, including future hybrid Triton and Pajero models.
Mitsubishi Motors is accelerating its electrification strategy with a major investment in Thailand that could pave the way for hybrid versions of the Mitsubishi Triton pickup and the next-generation Pajero SUV.
The Japanese automaker has announced plans to invest 16 billion baht (approximately AU$685 million) in the country by 2030, strengthening its position as a regional manufacturing and export center for electrified vehicles.
The investment is expected to support the development and production of advanced powertrain technologies, including hybrid systems that may soon be introduced in some of Mitsubishi’s most popular body-on-frame vehicles.
Industry reports indicate that the Triton pickup and the upcoming Pajero SUV will be central to the company’s future production strategy in Thailand.
The new-generation Pajero is scheduled to enter production later this year and will reportedly share its ladder-frame architecture with the latest Triton.
This common platform could allow Mitsubishi to efficiently introduce hybrid technology across both models while maintaining their off-road and towing capabilities.
Thailand remains one of Mitsubishi’s most important manufacturing hubs outside Japan. The company has invested more than AU$5 billion in the country over the years and has exported over five million vehicles from its Thai operations.
Currently, Mitsubishi produces models such as the Xforce compact SUV and Xpander MPV in Thailand, both of which feature non-plug-in hybrid systems alongside conventional combustion-engine variants.
When unveiling the current-generation Triton in 2023, Mitsubishi executives indicated that hybrid technology would likely serve as an intermediate step before the introduction of fully electric or plug-in hybrid versions. Company officials noted that a conventional hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) system could be integrated into the existing Triton platform with fewer structural modifications than a battery-electric vehicle.
Mitsubishi has also suggested that future hybrid technology could potentially be paired with its proven 2.4-liter diesel engine, although the company has yet to reveal specific technical details.
As competition intensifies in the electrified pickup and SUV segment, the planned hybrid Triton and Pajero could help Mitsubishi strengthen its presence in markets increasingly demanding fuel-efficient and lower-emission vehicles.
With substantial investment committed and development progressing, hybrid-powered Triton and Pajero models appear to be moving closer to reality, signaling a significant step in Mitsubishi’s global electrification journey.