Mitsubishi Motors Australia Keeps Delica in View but Commits to No Local Launch

Mitsubishi Motors Australia remains interested in bringing the Delica people mover to Australia, chief executive officer Shunichi Kihara said, while confirming no launch. The model is sold only in Japan and would need engineering work before a local introduction, EIN Presswire reported on October 20, 2026.

Kihara Ties Delica Interest to Private Imports

Kihara said the continued popularity of privately imported Delica vehicles showed there was an audience in Australia for the four-wheel drive people mover. "I personally love the Delica very much, and I know that there are many individual customers who import Delica by themselves, so I understand that there is a demand for this type of vehicle," he said. "That means we have opportunity. But at this moment nothing is confirmed."

The comments follow Mitsubishi's recent application to protect the Delica name in Australia. Kihara said the trademark activity was intended to protect the possibility of a future decision rather than indicate that an Australian introduction had been approved.

Kihara said the current-generation Delica was engineered primarily for Japan, where it remains part of Mitsubishi's domestic range. "The specification, the regulation compliance is all based on Japan, or I should say, optimised for the Japanese market," he said. "Bringing that car outside of Japan requires some kind of engineering."

MMAL product strategy manager Tim Clarke said the company had completed preliminary investigations into the model's local potential, including bringing a 2023-model vehicle to Australia for evaluation. "We have done some feasibility studies. We have a 2023 model here to determine market acceptance or possible market acceptance of a possible future Delica," he said. "The feedback was really good, but it was again, that's an aged platform now."

The current Delica D:5 traces its fundamental design to 2007. Mitsubishi Australia's evaluation of the Delica dates back to 2023, when the company sought feedback from dealers, prospective customers and motoring media.

Mitsubishi Motors Australia's Recent Launches

According to akta.pro company records, Mitsubishi Motors Australia released the MY26 Triton range across 15 variants with Yamaha performance dampers and a single 150kW/470Nm turbo-diesel option, priced AUD 37,090 to $65,590. The company also launched the Triton Raider flagship ute variant at AUD 74,990, co-developed with Australian engineering firm Premcar and arriving May/June 2026. The same records show a memorandum of understanding signed with Foxconn (Foxtron) in early 2025 to co-develop the company's first fully electric SUV, expected to launch by the end of 2026.

Delica Interest Alongside Rival Launches

Subaru will stop selling combustion-powered models in Europe after 2027, leaving only the Solterra, Uncharted and E-Outback, Motor1.com reported on October 19, 2026. Chery Group's Omoda brand debuted its new Omoda 4 compact SUV with a hybrid drivetrain at the Paris auto show, Autonews reported on October 19, 2026. Renault India CEO Stephane Deblaise said hybrid and CNG powertrains could account for nearly half of the company's sales in two to three years, BusinessLine reported on October 17, 2026.

Mitsubishi's Electric SUV Timeline

Mitsubishi Motors Australia expects to launch its first fully electric SUV, based on the Foxtron Model B, by the end of 2026, following the memorandum of understanding with Foxconn signed in early 2025. The company's own announcement covers its Australian model range.