When is a Mitsubishi not a Mitsubishi?

The answer, from 2027, could be: when it says Logisnext on the side.

A significant change is coming to one of the best-known names in the forklift industry. Under current plans, Mitsubishi forklift trucks in the UK will begin moving to Logisnext branding from September 2027.

The familiar green colour scheme is expected to remain, and the trucks, technology and engineering behind them will continue. What will gradually disappear is the Mitsubishi name and the famous three-diamond logo from the forklifts themselves.

For customers who have bought, operated and trusted Mitsubishi forklifts for many years, it raises an obvious question.

What exactly is Logisnext?

A name that isn’t actually new

Although Logisnext may be unfamiliar to many forklift users, the name itself dates back to 2017.

Mitsubishi Logisnext Co., Ltd. was created in October that year through the integration of Mitsubishi Nichiyu Forklift and UniCarriers. It brought together a remarkable collection of forklift manufacturing histories, including Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks, Nichiyu, Nissan Forklift and TCM.

UniCarriers itself had been formed through the combination of Nissan Forklift and TCM, while Mitsubishi Nichiyu had brought together Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ forklift activities and Nichiyu, a pioneer of electric forklift development in Japan.

In other words, Logisnext was never a new forklift manufacturer starting from scratch. It was the corporate name created above a collection of established manufacturers, technologies and distribution networks. For several years, however, customers rarely saw that name on the machines. A Mitsubishi remained a Mitsubishi.

So what does ‘Logisnext’ actually mean?

The clue is in the name. Logisnext is essentially a combination of the ideas of logistics and what comes next.

The company describes the name as reflecting its commitment to next-generation logistics, connecting today’s logistics requirements with the opportunities of tomorrow.

That also explains why the name is broader than simply ‘Forklift’. Over the years, the group has expanded its focus beyond conventional lift trucks into areas such as warehouse equipment, automation, automated guided vehicles, fleet management and wider logistics solutions.

Even when Mitsubishi Logisnext was first created in 2017, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries described the ambition as a move from being primarily a forklift business towards becoming a broader logistics solutions company.

Logisnext was therefore always intended to describe something bigger than a single product or historic manufacturer.

Why is Mitsubishi disappearing now?

The next major step came in 2026. Following changes in the ownership and strategic direction of the business, including a partnership with Japan Industrial Partners, Mitsubishi Logisnext announced that the group would become simply Logisnext.

On 30 April 2026, Mitsubishi Logisnext Co., Ltd. changed its corporate name to Logisnext Co., Ltd., with regional businesses following the same direction. Mitsubishi Logisnext Europe became Logisnext Europe.

But changing the company name was only part of the story. The group also confirmed that the Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks product brand will transition to Logisnext, with the timing varying between different regions. In other markets, the new identity is being referred to as Logisnext Forklifts.

For the UK, that transition is currently planned to begin from September 2027.

Same green. Different name.

Perhaps the most noticeable aspect of the change will be how familiar the new trucks still look.

The distinctive green associated with Mitsubishi forklifts is expected to remain, maintaining a visual link with the machines customers already know.

The major difference will be the badge. Instead of Mitsubishi and the three diamonds, customers will increasingly see the Logisnext identity.

That distinction matters because Logisnext should not be thought of as an unfamiliar manufacturer that has suddenly replaced Mitsubishi. It is the organisation that has already been behind the Mitsubishi forklift business for years. The name on the truck is changing to reflect the name of the wider group.

A forklift family tree with plenty of branches

For anyone familiar with the forklift industry, there is also something rather fascinating about the history behind the change.

Today’s Logisnext organisation contains engineering heritage from some of the industry’s best-known names.

TCM produced Japan’s first engine-powered forklift in 1949. Nissan began developing forklifts through its industrial machinery activities in the 1950s. Nichiyu pioneered electric forklift technology in Japan, while Mitsubishi Heavy Industries began forklift production in 1970 and developed a strong international presence under the Mitsubishi and Caterpillar brands.

Over decades, acquisitions, mergers and integrations gradually brought those businesses together. The names changed along the way.

Nissan Forklift and TCM became part of UniCarriers. UniCarriers later joined Mitsubishi Nichiyu. In 2017, those businesses became Mitsubishi Logisnext.

Now, nearly a decade later, the final part of that evolution is becoming visible on the product itself.

Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks is becoming Logisnext Forklifts.

What does it mean for Mitsubishi forklift owners?

For existing customers, the important message is continuity.

A change of badge does not suddenly make the Mitsubishi forklifts already working across the UK obsolete, nor does it erase the engineering, parts and product heritage behind them.

Indeed, the official message from Logisnext throughout the transition has been that existing engineering expertise, products, dealer support and service structures will continue.

Between now and the planned UK transition in 2027, we are likely to hear much more about how the Logisnext name will appear across the forklift range and how the new identity will be introduced.

For customers, though, perhaps the simplest explanation is this:

The green forklift you have known as a Mitsubishi is not being replaced by an unknown manufacturer.

The name of the manufacturer behind it is simply moving to the front of the truck.

So, when is a Mitsubishi not a Mitsubishi? From 2027, when it is a Logisnext.

And underneath the new badge, there will be a lot more Mitsubishi history than the new name might initially suggest.