Key highlights
- Mitsubishi Motors Australia previously confirmed it was evaluating the Delica for the local market.
- The next-generation Delica is expected to draw on the D:X Concept unveiled in 2023.
- An Australian trademark does not confirm a local launch, with pricing and availability yet to be announced.
Mitsubishi has filed an Australian trademark for the Delica name in September 2026, adding another piece of evidence that the long-running people mover is being considered for Australia. The filing does not confirm that the next-generation Mitsubishi Delica will be sold here, as carmakers often register names to protect their intellectual property across different markets. However, it is notable given Mitsubishi Motors Australia has previously said it was evaluating the model for a potential local introduction.
The Delica has never been part of Mitsubishi’s official Australian passenger-car range, despite being a familiar sight on Australian roads through private imports. That could change with the next generation, which is expected to replace the current model and is believed to be approaching its production debut.
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Mitsubishi has already tested the Delica in Australia
Mitsubishi Motors Australia confirmed in 2023 that it had acquired a current-generation Delica to assess its potential for the Australian market. At the time, the company said the vehicle was being evaluated for its appeal among dealers, customers and local media. Mitsubishi also indicated that its evaluation was being carried out with the next-generation model in mind, saying it would continue assessing the opportunity ahead of its introduction.
That makes the latest trademark filing more significant than a standalone name registration. It follows an established evaluation process rather than being the first indication of Australian interest in the Delica. Still, Mitsubishi has not confirmed that the next-generation Delica will be launched in Australia.
D:X Concept points to the next Delica
The next-generation model is expected to take inspiration from the Mitsubishi D:X Concept, which was unveiled in 2023 as an off-road-focused plug-in hybrid people mover. Mitsubishi described the concept as combining a PHEV drivetrain with its Super All-Wheel Control system, along with the brand’s focus on adventure and practicality. The D:X Concept was presented as a design study rather than a production vehicle, so its features and specifications should not be assumed to carry over unchanged to the eventual Delica.
Nevertheless, it provides an indication of where Mitsubishi could take the nameplate as it moves into its next generation. For Australian buyers, a Delica with this kind of focus could be particularly relevant given the popularity of vehicles that combine passenger-carrying capacity with greater capability on unsealed roads and in regional areas.
Could the Delica finally become an official Australian model?
The Mitsubishi Delica name has a long history, dating back to the late 1960s, and Australian enthusiasts are already familiar with various generations through private imports. Mitsubishi also has an established history with the name in Australia, although not as an official Delica. Commercial versions of the vehicle were sold locally as the Mitsubishi Express, while passenger versions were previously marketed as the Starwagon.
An official Delica would therefore give Mitsubishi a new way to enter the modern people-mover market, rather than simply reviving an unfamiliar nameplate. For now, however, there is no confirmed Australian launch date, specification or pricing for the next-generation Mitsubishi Delica. Australian pricing hasn’t been announced, and the trademark filing alone does not guarantee the vehicle will be sold locally. More details are expected to emerge as Mitsubishi progresses towards revealing its next-generation people mover.
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