By FREDA LEWIS-STEMPEL, MOTORING REPORTER and ROB HULL, MOTORING EDITOR
After an almost six-year hiatus one of Britain's most-loved Japanese car brands is coming back to the UK, it has been confirmed.
Mitsubishi - the car maker that produced the likes of the Colt, L200 pick-uk truck, rally-bred Lancer Evos, Shogun 4X4s and market-leading Outlander Plug-in Hybrid SUV - has announced its return in summer 2026.
International Motors Ltd, a leading UK-based vehicle importer and distributor, which oversees UK sales for Chinese brands XPeng and GWM as well as Japanese comapnies Isuzu and Subaru, confirmed it will introduce new Mitsubishi models from midway through 2026 on behalf of Mitsubishi.
The announcement confirms UK comeback plans Mitsubishi first teased in June 2025. At the time Frank Krol, CEO of Mitsubishi Motors Europe, said the aim was to return after the Covid pandemic and a collapse in sales saw the company have to retreat from the British market.
While we don't know which models will be coming, Krol said the 'upcoming models represent the very best of Mitsubishi Motors’ core technologies in performance, four-wheel drive, and much more' and showcase the car maker's 'global lineup' and 'latest advancements in innovation and four-wheel drive technologies to the UK market'.
He added: 'We look forward to a successful introduction in the UK – a market where our brand continues to have a deep emotional connection with loyal customers.'
Mitsubishi returns to the UK: The cult Japanese car maker will return in summer 2026 with 'the very best of Mitsubishi Motors’ core technologies in performance, four-wheel drive, and much more'. Mitsubishi withdrew from Britain in 2020
Mitsubishi pulled out of the UK in 2020 as part of a massive cost-saving drive.
Covid triggered a collapse in sales that brought on the company's retreat from Europe.
The announcement spelled the end of a 46-year history selling cars in Britain, with the first UK-spec Mitsubishi model - the Colt Lancer - debuting in 1974.
But last year all that changed when Mitsubishi returned to some European markets as part of its alliance with Renault and Nissan.
The alliance saw Mitsubishi sell rebranded versions of Renault's Clio supermini and Captur crossover, renamed Colt and ASX, in Europe. The cars are produced at the French company's factories in its homeland.
The next step was relaunching its latest Outlander PHEV - a model that for years topped the UK's hybrid sales charts and became a firm favourite among company car drivers due to its huge tax-saving benefits.
At that point CEO Krol said that Mitsubishi's sights were set on coming back to the UK, telling Autocar that the 'potential and size' of the UK market is too much to ignore and that the Japanese brand has a 'preferred route to go back'.
The Mitsubishi name is one that's well known and much loved here in the UK. The Japanese marque first began selling cars in Britain in 1974 and is remembered more recently for a wide range of models, including the Colt supermini (pictured)
Mitsubishi's 2020 announcement and 2021 sales stop spelled the end of a 46-year history selling cars in Britain
The Mitsubishi L200 was along the best pick-up trucks sold in the UK until the brand pulled out of the market as part of a cost-saving measure in 2020 following the impact of the pandemic
Mitsubishi in 2020 announced it would be pulling out of Europe entirely. However after a partnership with Renault and Nissan it has been selling the new Colt in Europe since 2024
Now that route has been confirmed, summer 2026 will mark just under five years since the last Mitsubishi models were sold in showrooms, and just under six since the announcement the Japanese made.
Despite this time away the brand is still very much recognised, having generated a relatively strong fan base after almost five decades selling cars in Britain.
Acknowledging that fan base, Sharon Townsend, Head of Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, commented: 'We’re delighted to be introducing exciting new Mitsubishi vehicles to our loyal UK customers.
'Over the past few years, we’ve continued to see enthusiasm for the brand, which has strongly influenced this decision.
'By building on our trusted aftersales network and dedicated retailer partners, we are committed to providing an exceptional ownership experience.'
Mitsubishi retains around 100 dealerships across the country, which have become service and after-sale centres for existing customers, and a dedicated number of retailers are currently being appointed to handle sales and customer service for when delivers commence in the summer.
