Mitsubishi is returning to the UK new car market from summer 2026, five years after the Japanese brand made its exit.

International Motors, a leading UK-based vehicle importer and distributor for brands including Subaru, Isuzu, Xpeng and GWM, today announced plans to introduce new Mitsubishi vehicles to the UK market from summer 2026.

The new models have not been announced yet but will be “drawn from Mitsubishi Motors’ global line-up” and are likely to include the Eclipse Cross and the Outlander plug-in hybrid SUV – which was a hit with UK fleets including Defra in its previous generation.

Frank Krol, president and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors Europe, said: “Our upcoming models represent the very best of Mitsubishi Motors’ core technologies in performance, four-wheel drive and much more. 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 launched in the UK in 1974 via official distributor the Colt Car Company, which was owned jointly by Mitsubishi Corporation and David Blackburn. The first cars to be launched were the ​Colt Lancer and the Colt Galant. From its modest beginnings working out of a four-room office located on Dollar Street in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, the business expanded and finally moved into purpose-built headquarters at Watermoor in Cirencester in 1983. In 2008, Mitsubishi Corporation took complete ownership of the Colt Car Company.

However, in summer 2020, Mitsubishi, part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, said it was freezing the development and introduction of new models for Europe including the UK, with new car sales ceasing around late 2021 as part of a global cost-saving strategy. Instead, the brand said it would focus on the ASEAN markets and shift its strategy from expansion to concentration.

The aftersales business and support for existing vehicles was sold to International Motors, which has run the network since then.

Currently, the aftersales network has more than a hundred sites and International Motors said a dedicated number of retailers are currently being appointed to handle sales and customer service.

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.”

Further details, including model names, specifications and pricing, will be announced “in due course”.