Mitsubishi Motors to revive flagship Pajero SUV after 7 years

A Mitsubishi Pajero Sport SUV. (File photo: Chanat Katanyu)

KYODO — Mitsubishi Motors Corp said Friday it will revive its flagship Pajero sport utility vehicle (SUV) in Japan for the first time in seven years, with a plan to unveil the new model this fall.The move comes as many fans have been calling for the vehicle's return, as Japan's production of the model ended in 2019 due to sluggish sales.

The Pajero was launched in 1982 and drove the boom of recreational vehicles in the 1990s. More than 3.25 million units were sold in over 170 countries and regions over its four generations, the automaker said.

The model excelled in the Dakar Rally, an automobile competition, becoming a symbol of Mitsubishi Motors, but later its sales dropped amid increased competition from rival SUVs.