Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.Hanging in ThereIt's been a while since there was any news about Mitsubishi, but the official announcement of the Pajero and Montero names was a great way to remind people the company is still around. While it's doing well in Southeast Asia and Oceania, it's been largely quiet in the West.Currently, the U.S lineup consists of the Outlander in both gas and plug-in hybrid forms, Eclipse Cross, and the Outlander Sport. Of the three models mentioned, two came out before 2020, giving you an idea of just how seasoned the Mitsubishi range is in America. Sure, the Outlander was refreshed for 2026, but the model itself is already five years old.MitsubishiReviving InterestLast year, Mitsubishi sold a grand total of 94,754 vehicles in the U.S, which could be considered a very slow month for Honda or a particularly strong one for Nissan. That tally actually marked a 13% decline from 2024's sales figures. Still, it could be worse, but we're sure Mitsubishi doesn't want a repeat of 2009's disastrous performance. The Japanese automaker sold just 53,988 units that year.AdvertisementAdvertisementBut while Mitsubishi has a tiny footprint in the U.S, it wants its presence to be felt in the country again. The company announced its mid-term plans for the next five years, and yes, there are actually plans for America. In its own words, it wants to "enhance brand strength by expanding off-road models."MitsubishiWith a Little Help from NissanOne of Mitsubishi's first moves to be more visible in the U.S is the introduction of a new pickup. This was confirmed in the company's presentation published on May 29, 2026. The plan is for a 'new pickup collaboration project from Nissan.' The last pickup Mitsubishi sold in the U.S was the Raider, itself based on the third-generation Dodge Dakota.That announcement is timely, as Nissan is preparing the next-generation Frontier. The collaboration could go one of two ways. The first is that the Mitsubishi pickup will share the same frame as the future Frontier but will feature Mitsubishi's own powertrains, technologies, and USPs. It could also be a straight-up rebadging of the Frontier with minor styling changes inside and out.We're banking on it being a more unique product. Mitsubishi's use of the word 'collaboration' suggests that, and it didn't say the model will be an 'OEM from Nissan.' Curiously, we saw the name Endeavour being brought up again, as a trademark application was filed back in February.NissanThe Bigger PictureMitsubishi is going for a leaner approach moving forward. Two distinct vehicle lines are planned, namely the ASEAN Product Group and the Off-Road Product Group. The ASEAN Product Group will focus on Southeast Asia and other emerging markets, while the Off-Road Product Group covers the rest of the world. This plan might actually boost the chances of the Montero's American comeback.AdvertisementAdvertisementAll in all, the company is set to launch 13 new models within the next five years. This includes the Montero/Pajero and the new pickup for North America. It appears that the expanded Montero/Pajero family will spawn more models, and it's possible that one of the SUVs previewed was the next-generation Outlander. Meanwhile, the minivan shown in the presentation is likely to be the redesigned Delica.Southeast Asia, undoubtedly Mitsubishi's strongest market, is expected to receive most of the Off-Road Product Group models, and the region will also receive an all-new mini-MPV in the form of the second-generation Xpander. Five rebadged models courtesy of Nissan and Renault are also coming soon, namely two new EV crossovers, another pickup, and two more EV kei cars.MitsubishiThis story was originally published by Autoblog on May 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.