Mitsubishi Motors news

[CCF mod]

Mitsubishi will launch six new models.

As part of the company's Step Up 2010 mid-term business plan announced at the end of February, China will become one of Mitsubishi's focus markets. As such, Mitsubishi on Tuesday announced it will launch six new models into the quickly growing market in the next three years, including three built in China. The headliner and the first of the six new vehicles will be the company's performance flagship, the Lancer Evolution, one of 13 models Mitsubishi will have on display at the Beijing International Motor Show starting next week.

With the China launch, Mitsubishi will have all the major markets covered with the latest Evolution, as the high-performance AWD sedan is already sold in the home market of Japan, as well as Europe, North America and Australia.

Three high-volume vehicles will be assembled in China, including the Pajero SUV, Galant mid-size sedan and Lancer X-Speed. The Galant is based on the North American Galant, with unique detail changes inside and out, but is powered by the same 2.4-liter inline four that makes 160 horsepower in the U.S.

It and the Lancer X-Speed, which sounds basically like a dressed up, FWD, non-turbo Lancer sedan aimed at a younger demographic, will be built at South East Motor in China's Fujian Province. Mitsubishi Motors holds a 25 percent stake in the plant along with China Motor Corp, with Fujian Automotive Industry Group owning 50 percent.

source: leftlanenews.com

[Rally Red Lancer GTS]

The Mitsubishi Lancer X-Speed would probably have some of the same fittings as my 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS. It sounds like what is being described above, especially if the X-Speed offers the CVT automatic transmission with the 6 forward and back paddle shift "gears." Leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather-covered gearshift knob, foglights, sunroof, 650-watt Rockford Fosgate stereo, etc. It's been a very nice ride for me so far. The bodykit is only offered on the GTS Lancer for 2008 so if the X-Speed comes from the factory with the bodykit it is indeed a Lancer GTS called X-Speed for the Chinese market.

[CCF mod]

Mitsubishi to export 168,000 China-made engines.

May 13, 2008 - Mitsubishi Motors will export around 168,000 engines built in China to overseas markets, a source familiar with the case told Beijing Morning Post on Monday.

The report cites the source as saying that 40%of the 420,000 engines Mitsubishi plans to build in China will be exported to markets such as Japan and Europe.

Wall Street Journal reported on April 22 that Mitsubishi Motors is to double its engine manufacturing capacity at its Chinese unit in Shenyang to 420,000 engines a year by 2010.

Construction of a second plant at its existing facilities south of Shenyang should be completed by early 2009, according to Mitsubishi's plan. The facility will be used to produce small engines ranging from 1.0L to 1.6L.

source: Gasgoo.com

[CCF mod]

Mitsubishi licenses AT tech to Dongan Auto Engine

June 27, 2008 - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation yesterday signed a technology licensing agreement with its powertrain joint venture enterprise in China Harbin Dongan Automotive Engine Manufacturing Co., Ltd. for 4- and 5-speed automatic transmissions (AT).

Dongan Automotive began construction work on a new factory in March this year that is scheduled to commence production in April 2010. The new facility will have an annual production capacity of 150,000 units and will produce 50,000 units in its first year of operation. With this addition, the Dongan plant's combined capacity will rise to 300,000 units / year. In 2007, the plant had sales volume of 280,000 units. Mitsubishi says the production capacity will be raised to meet future increases in demand.

In 1998 Mitsubishi made a 15.3-per cent equity investment in Dongan Automotive Engines and has to date provided engineering and technical assistance covering the production of engines ranging from 1.3-litre to 2.0-litre and of 5-speed manual transmissions. The automatic transmission license agreement signed yesterday will lead to a further handing of Japan's engineering technology and its commitment to the Chinese auto engineering firm .

The technology transfer will allow Dongan Automotive to supply core automotive parts not only its own group companies but also to other automobile manufacturers in China and will contribute to further growth and development of the Chinese automobile industry. The building up of a locally-based production system will allow Mitsubishi to meet AT market needs which are expected to increase on the back of the growth of the car market in China.

The signing of the licensing agreement was attended by, among others, MMC President Osamu Masuko, Vice Chairman of Preparatory Committee of China Aviation Industry Corporation, Vice President Liu Tao Avi China Industry & Technology Company Limited, Board Chairman & President Ma ChuanLi DAE, Governor Li ZhanShu The Peoples' Government of Heilongjang Province, Mayor Zhang XiaoLian The General Office of the Peoples' Government of Harbin, and Mitsubishi Corporation Motor Vehicle Business Division COO Kozo Shiraji.

The major shareholders of the Harbin Dongan Automotive, based in Harbin Heilongjang province are, Harbin Dongan Auto Engine Co.,Ltd (36.0%), Harbin Dongan Engine (Group) Co., Ltd. (19%), Harbin Aircraft Industry (Group) Harbin Hafei Motor Co., Ltd. (15 per cent), Mitsubishi Motor Co (15.3 per cent), Malaysia China Investment Corporation (9%), Mitsubishi Corporation (5.7%).

source: domain-b.com

[CCF mod]

Mitsubishi to unify sales networks in China

Compared with other foreign manufacturers, Mitsubishi's presence in China has been relatively low-key. According to a report appearing in the Beijing Times today, the manufacturer now has plans to combine its two sales channels for its joint ventures with GAC and Soueast with its one for imported vehicles. The plans are already in the process of being negotiated, with Soueast co-owner Fujian Motor having already voiced their support.

Despite a relatively strong performance in the first half of 2012, Mitsubishi's sales took a sudden nosedive as protests advocating the boycott of Japanese goods spread throughout China. By the end of the year, the manufacturer sold just 50,000 vehicles in the country. The Chinese market accounted for just five percent of its global sales over the year.

In addition to rising anti-Japanese sentiment in the latter half of 2012, Mitsubishi suffered due to its lack of both a variety of products and effective sales channels with which to sell them. Mitsubishi hopes that by combining its sales channels, it will be able to attract more customers.

Guangqi Mitsubishi's SUVs and upcoming sedans will be sold alongside Soueast's Mitsubishi sedans and various imported Mitsubishi models. Furthermore, Guangqi Mitsubishi, Soueast and Mitsubishi China 4S dealerships will all use the same Mitsubishi logo to present a unified image.

http://autonews.gasgoo.com/china-new...a-130301.shtml