Mitsubishi CEO Loves Manual Transmissions—Just as the Pajero Returns

The Pajero’s Return Is No Longer a Rumor

The Pajero is coming this year. This has been news because of dealer leaks, but now, it’s official. Mitsubishi Motors President and COO Keisuke Kishiura confirmed the timeline at the Automobile Council 2026 in Japan. That ends months of speculation.

Speaking to Best Car, Kishiura said, “It will be released by the end of the year as a new cross-country SUV, so please wait for that.” He stopped short of explicitly naming the Mitsubishi Pajero, but the direct question and context – combined with the event’s Pajero-heavy display – make the direction fairly clear.

The executive also shared a personal detail that stands out. He prefers manual transmissions. Most SUVs today are automatic, so this is unusual. It is not clear if this will affect product decisions, but it is a mindset that off-road fans will notice.

A President Who Still Prefers Three Pedals

Kishiura’s comments weren’t limited to product plans. He also gave a glimpse into his own car history, and it’s not what you’d expect from a modern automotive executive.

He said he has never owned a Pajero. Instead, he prefers the RVR Sport Gear, especially the 5-speed manual version. He described himself as a manual transmission kind of person and said he chose the stick shift even when automatics were more common.

Does this mean the upcoming Pajero will have a stick shift? Not really, but at least we know the man at the top is still a fan of MTs.

Kishiura’s garage has also included models like the Lancer and Grandis. More recently, he has driven electrified vehicles like the eK Cross EV and Outlander PHEV. This shows he understands both Mitsubishi’s heritage and its move toward electrification.

When asked about competition from low-cost Chinese EVs in ASEAN markets, Kishiura said Mitsubishi will not try to compete with them directly. The company will focus on its strengths, like durability and off-road capability. This approach matches what buyers expect from Mitsubishi.

What We Know About the New Pajero So Far

Details are scarce at this point, but the direction is clearer now. Mitsubishi calls the new model a true cross-country SUV and plans to make it a core vehicle for the brand.

The “cross-country SUV” part is important. It suggests the new Pajero will not become a soft-roader like many current SUVs. Instead, it is expected to keep traditional off-road strengths, possibly with body-on-frame construction or strong terrain capability.

There are signs that Mitsubishi has been benchmarking the Pajero against the Toyota Land Cruiser. That sets a high standard and shows the company wants more than just to bring back an old name.

It is still unclear how Mitsubishi will balance a rugged identity with modern needs like electrification, safety technology, and global market demands. The company’s recent success with hybrids in Southeast Asia suggests an electrified powertrain could be included.