Absent Since 2006, Mitsubishi Pajero Will Return To US Market In 2028

JAKARTA - Laris sweetly in many countries, Mitsubishi Montero or some markets known as Pajero has been absent in the United States (US) since 2006. Now, tough SUV fans in the US may soon get good news with the upcoming return of Montero adorning the streets, following the first sighting of a trial model that was camouflaged in several recent spy photos.

This body-on-frame SUV is expected to be a model in 2028 and has the potential to be an interesting collaboration with Nissan Xterra.

Launching Car and Driver, Tuesday, July 15, the photos of the spies caught by photographers in southern Europe show a box-shaped SUV very similar to the typical design of Montero. The important details seen are solid back doubles, indicating the use of a body-on-frame chassis known to be tough for off-road, similar to its rivals such as Toyota 4Runner and Nissan Xterra. Although the grip and front are tightly closed, the narrow light elements look like the latest Mitsubishi Outlander. The boxed Fender, a sturdy top pillar, and mud flip also further strengthens the alleged return of the iconic Montero design. However, the spare tires that are usually attached behind are not visible in this test unit.

In addition to these photos, there is some other evidence that corroborates Montero's revival signal, particularly for the US market starting in February 2024, Mitsubishi submitted the "Montero" trademark to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Then, Mitsubishi has also announced plans to introduce several new models between 2026 and 2030.

Strategic Collaboration With Nissan

Nissan is expected to play a major role in this Montero revival ambition. Both brands have collaborated in several models, such as the Rogue/Outlander compact SUV. Now, they are also working on a joint development of an intermediate-sized pickup truck, which has the potential to pave the way for Nissan Xterra's popular return along with the new Montero.

A report from Automotive News states that Nissan is considering moving production of the body-on-frame (BoF) model from Japan to their assembly plant that has not been utilized optimally in Canton, Mississippi. The report also claims that Nissan can build a pair of Frontier-sized SUVs at the plant. Most likely, this could be Nissan Xterra's next-generation and a new Mitsubishi Montero.